Could Consciousness Be the Universe's Self Awareness?

[Ouroboros]

I think that consciousness is just another way of looking at awareness. Awareness is what we do, consciousness is what we are. The only difference is a state (-ment).

That's how I kind'a see it too.

Being conscious of something is to be aware of something, which means an ability to take in and process things around and reflect on them in the inner mind.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Sounds like another thread about semantics.

In that case, the volume must not be up

 

[Willamena]

consider my post number 22....
Does that count for something ??
How about the word cognizance instead of "aware of ".
nuff stuff
~
'mud

To cognize is the dance of recognize
minus a step.

 

[idav]

Alright. But that is a very slim difference, how does it change anything that I asked in this thread?


I'll accept those definitions, but out of curiosity; you say "when awareness becomes aware of things..." But how can it be called awareness when it isn't aware?

I am in agreement with Goblin. I see this mostly when I look at the mirror test that great apes, dophins and elephants are able to pass proving they have self awareness. The monkey looks at the mirror and thinks it is another monkey and tries to fight with it. The monkey is aware though. However when the chimp looks in the mirror they prove to us they know it is themselves they are looking at. That is full blown consciousness because they are not only self aware but they are aware they are self aware so it is a slim difference but one requires more conceptulization and intelligence. The universe might not be aware of itself through the monkey but certainly more through great apes.

 

[Willamena]

That's how I kind'a see it too.

Being conscious of something is to be aware of something, which means an ability to take in and process things around and reflect on them in the inner mind.

Being conscious of something is to be aware of something, which means the world, in all its takes--sensed, processed and reflected upon.

 

[idav]

Sounds like another thread about semantics.

Wouldn't proper understanding require proper defining? At the very least in order to communicate we ought to be on the same page on definitions or we will just talk passed each other.

 

[Ouroboros]

Wouldn't proper understanding require proper defining? At the very least in order to communicate we ought to be on the same page on definitions or we will just talk passed each other.

And also, as a software developer I learned many years ago that if you can describe the problem fully and properly, the solution tends to arise from the problem statement. The more vague and unclear a problem is stated or defined, the harder it is to really solve it. The complexity of a problem, however, tends to hinder a proper problem statement. There were times when I would work months with the stakeholders, and the specification changed after every meeting. We had to put a stop to move forward, but then they realized it would be too expensive to implement.

 

[HaRah]

Just because you are aware doesnt mean it matters you self centered .... You are nohting in the that which is fool - you are everything to thine self and yet nohting to the whole - silly fool toil in your pleasures which are none cept to thine self and maybe one other? Fool you bear witness and not too well step up give god a good deal for that which he gave on to you - step out and live in the garden for it is all yours-the infinite - rejoice

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Just because you are aware doesnt mean it matters you self centered .... You are nohting in the that which is fool - you are everything to thine self and yet nohting to the whole - silly fool toil in your pleasures which are none cept to thine self and maybe one other? Fool you bear witness and not too well step up give god a good deal for that which he gave on to you - step out and live in the garden for it is all yours-the infinite - rejoice

Beanut Putter

 

[MD]

Consciousness is an intrinsic property of the universe, I think it has always existed and this view makes the most sense scientifically. As such, the universe might have always had some sort of awareness of itself, far greater than what we can imagine.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Consciousness is an intrinsic property of the universe, I think it has always existed and this view makes the most sense scientifically. As such, the universe might have always had some sort of awareness of itself, far greater than what we can imagine.

I suggest that there isn't a separation between the universe's awareness of itself and our awareness of it.

 

[paragon]

"Some part of our being knows this is where we came from. We long to return. And we can. Because the cosmos is also within us. We're made of star-stuff. We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."

"We are the local embodiment of a Cosmos grown to selfawareness. We have begun to contemplate our origins: starstuff pondering the stars; organized assemblages of ten billion billion billion atoms considering the evolution of atoms; tracing the long journey by which, here at least, consciousness arose. Our loyalties are to the species and the planet. We speak for Earth. Our obligation to survive is owed not just to ourselves but also to that Cosmos, ancient and vast, from which we spring."

- Carl Sagan

 

[The Sum of Awe]

"Some part of our being knows this is where we came from. We long to return. And we can. Because the cosmos is also within us. We're made of star-stuff. We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."

"We are the local embodiment of a Cosmos grown to selfawareness. We have begun to contemplate our origins: starstuff pondering the stars; organized assemblages of ten billion billion billion atoms considering the evolution of atoms; tracing the long journey by which, here at least, consciousness arose. Our loyalties are to the species and the planet. We speak for Earth. Our obligation to survive is owed not just to ourselves but also to that Cosmos, ancient and vast, from which we spring."

- Carl Sagan

The cosmos is within us? There's no difference between I and the cosmos. I am not made of star stuff, I AM star stuff.

 

[metis]

Or, to put it another way, "I am That".

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Or, to put it another way, "I am That".

Or simply, "I Am"

 

[Quagmire]

only brains are conscious. but the whole of existence is aware.

a rock is not conscious, but is aware, if it suddenly grows a brain it becomes conscious

And really bored, I would imagine.

 

[Willamena]

The cosmos is within us? There's no difference between I and the cosmos. I am not made of star stuff, I AM star stuff.

That's actually what Carl Sagan meant, and if you watch the series "Cosmos" it's an integral part.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

That's actually what Carl Sagan meant, and if you watch the series "Cosmos" it's an integral part.

Was Sagan a pantheist? (In the actual sense, preferably I don't consider natural pantheists pantheists)

 

[Willamena]

Was Sagan a pantheist? (In the actual sense, preferably I don't consider natural pantheists pantheists)

I believe so.

 

[paragon]

I am not made of star stuff, I AM star stuff.

Wow, you're glowing.