12 Dec 19
@secondson saidOK.
Consciousness "perceives" those capacities. Not the other way around, from my point of view.
As for me, I think consciousness is a capacity.
12 Dec 19
@secondson saidChildren very often do not possess "awareness of the infinite and eternal" and yet they certainly have consciousness. The same could be said for some people with cognitive impairment: they have consciousness and yet are not aware of "the infinite and eternal".
Isn't that what consciousness is? That component of what we are that gives us self awareness of our finite capacities, in contrast to the awareness of the infinite and eternal?
12 Dec 19
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@secondson saidI think consciousness is a capacity that has evolved from biological function. I think consciousness ceases when our biological functions cease.
Consciousness is not reliant on biological function.
Attendant thereto: I have no credible reason to believe that death is anything other than 'the end'.
12 Dec 19
@secondson saidConsciousness is the capacity to access memories and recognize oneself as the witness and perpetrator of the events they record. Note the use of the word "is" and the absence of the word "does".
That says what consciousness does, not what it is.
12 Dec 19
@moonbus saidThat is true.
Dogs and cats are conscious, but they have no awareness of eternity. Dogs and cats don't even have awareness of "tomorrow" or "next week." They have memories, but no concept of "last week."
Animals function according to instinct, according to the code programmed into their DNA. A dogs god is its belly. Animals never question whether there's life after death or think about forever.
12 Dec 19
@fmf said"So, then, how would one "define", with the least common denominator, what consciousness is? What does it do or what is it for primarily as a function of what man is?"
That's right. I was answering this question from you:
"What does consciousness do or what is it for primarily as a function of what man is?"
So, yes, I was telling you what it does, because you asked me to.
I probably shouldn't have asked since my primary question is about what consciousness is. That's what I'm asking.
If asked, "what is a human body", the answer is plainly visible, but consciousness isn't visible, but clearly gives awareness of ourselves as more than just a physical frame.
Define consciousness. What is it? Maybe nobody knows.
12 Dec 19
@fmf saidWhat gives it capacity?
OK.
As for me, I think consciousness is a capacity.
The capacity of my eye is to see, but I can see my eye.
The capacity of consciousness is to be aware of my self and time out of mind, but I can't see my conscience.
12 Dec 19
@fmf saidPerhaps children haven't yet developed the vocabulary.
Children very often do not possess "awareness of the infinite and eternal" and yet they certainly have consciousness. The same could be said for some people with cognitive impairment: they have consciousness and yet are not aware of "the infinite and eternal".
12 Dec 19
@secondson saidHuman faculties, the development of which was made possible by the size and complexity of the brain. Consciousness is a capacity that the human brain gives us.
What gives it capacity?
12 Dec 19
@secondson saidConscience?
The capacity of consciousness is to be aware of my self and time out of mind, but I can't see my conscience.
12 Dec 19
@secondson saidI've offered a few possibilities on page 1.
I probably shouldn't have asked since my primary question is about what consciousness is.
12 Dec 19
@fmf saidExcept you have the conscious capacity to imagine the infinite and eternal.
I think consciousness is a capacity that has evolved from biological function. I think consciousness ceases when our biological functions cease.
Attendant thereto: I have no credible reason to believe that death is anything other than 'the end'.
12 Dec 19
@secondson saidI think my consciousness will cease when my "physical frame" ceases to exist. In the meantime, I think my consciousness is the ability to perceive my existence within an environment and to be aware of my capacity to affect or be affected by that environment.
consciousness isn't visible, but clearly gives awareness of ourselves as more than just a physical frame.
12 Dec 19
@fmf saidAnd the conscience has the capacity to be aware of eternity.
Consciousness is the capacity to access memories and recognize oneself as the witness and perpetrator of the events they record. Note the use of the word "is" and the absence of the word "does".