How did fundamental consciousness arise from basic chemistry

[Ostronomos]

The elements of life originated from stars in outer space. Hydrogen, Helium and Carbon. It is quite the conundrum to try to understand how consciousness arose from the chemistry of these basic elements. The only reasonable thing we can deduce is that consciousness is universal.

 

[nPeace]

The elements of life originated from stars in outer space. Hydrogen, Helium and Carbon. It is quite the conundrum to try to understand how consciousness arose from the chemistry of these basic elements. The only reasonable thing we can deduce is that consciousness is universal.

That's a question I would be interested to hear scientists answer.
What do you mean though, when you say

consciousness is universal.

 

[WalterTrull]

The elements of life originated from stars in outer space. Hydrogen, Helium and Carbon. It is quite the conundrum to try to understand how consciousness arose from the chemistry of these basic elements.

Likely, a false assumption.

The only reasonable thing we can deduce is that consciousness is universal.

Agreed.

 

[Milton Platt]

The elements of life originated from stars in outer space. Hydrogen, Helium and Carbon. It is quite the conundrum to try to understand how consciousness arose from the chemistry of these basic elements. The only reasonable thing we can deduce is that consciousness is universal.

What is “fundamental consiousness” and what do you mean that it is universal. Just trying to go for a little precision.

 

[Ostronomos]

What is “fundamental consiousness” and what do you mean that it is universal. Just trying to go for a little precision.

Consciousness that is basic to all life. And by universal I mean it inheres in all things.

 

[Milton Platt]

Consciousness that is basic to all life. And by universal I mean it inheres in all things.

Thanks. Do you mean all things or all living things?

 

[Ostronomos]

Thanks. Do you mean all things or all living things?

All things.

 

[WalterTrull]

All things.

Oh-oh. Tee hee

 

[Milton Platt]

All things.

Okay, I disagree woth your definition of consciousness. It is outside the normal isage of the word. Explain how atomic particles are aware of their environment.

 

[ameyAtmA]

Okay, I disagree woth your definition of consciousness. It is outside the normal isage of the word. Explain how atomic particles are aware of their environment.

Your question is topsy-turvey because your premise is topsy-turvey.

The One Universal Consciousness is the Witness of ALL that it has become or is appearing as.

So, the consciousness is aware of the atomic particle and its environment.
You are asking the wrong guy (the particle) instead of asking The right One (consciousness).

EDIT: On the same lines, the One Consciousness is witness (sAkshI) and aware of what is going on in a human brain, not the brain chemicals.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

The elements of life originated from stars in outer space. Hydrogen, Helium and Carbon. It is quite the conundrum to try to understand how consciousness arose from the chemistry of these basic elements. The only reasonable thing we can deduce is that consciousness is universal.

I don't know if I would call this universal "thing" by the name "consciousness." We tend to reserve that moniker for things that are aware on some level. However, it is true that there is activity/movement in all things at every level. Atomic and sub-atomic particles are actively engaged in relationships and make moves based on predetermined (or not-so-predetermined) patterns. Perhaps we could call it a universal "volition" instead and be a bit more sensitive to the idea of "awareness" that the word "consciousness" imparts?

volition - the act of willing, choosing, or resolving.
​

using the loophole of "resolving" one could state that particles "resolve" relationships with one another constantly. They "resolve" the usage and application of their latent/exhibited energies. Not that they are conscious of these resolutions or "choices," but it is energy put to self-involved activity and movement nonetheless. And I don't think it such a great stretch to posit that this sort of activity is the rudimentary stage upon which our (suspected) higher forms of consciousness are necessarily dependent or even based.

 

[Nakosis]

The elements of life originated from stars in outer space. Hydrogen, Helium and Carbon. It is quite the conundrum to try to understand how consciousness arose from the chemistry of these basic elements. The only reasonable thing we can deduce is that consciousness is universal.

It's possible that consciousness is a fundamental force. For consciousness to be detectable by us at least requires a complex structure. There are levels of consciousness. Plants for example seem to have some limited awareness of their environment. A single particle is simply not complex enough to display anytype of awareness.

Maybe, maybe it's something else. Don't really at this point have a way of testing it. Maybe if we come to the point of being able to create something with enough complexity, we will find that consciousness emerges from it.

 

[Aupmanyav]

We should bifurcate the question. The consciousness of the living things, and the consciousness of (physical) energy from which every thing arises.

 

[ameyAtmA]

We should bifurcate the question. The consciousness of the living things, and the consciousness of (physical) energy from which every thing arises.

No, Aupmanyavji. I think separating them is the problem, and the basis of atheism. Therefore I repeat what I wrote earlier - post above:

So, the [original ] consciousness is aware of the atomic particle and its environment.
You are asking the wrong guy (the particle) instead of asking The right One (consciousness).

EDIT: On the same lines, the One Consciousness is witness (sAkshI) and aware of what is going on in a human brain, not the brain chemicals.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Yabut, among the unenlightened, such breaking into parts is useful.
However, I got my atheism from not breaking into parts. Non-duality, you know, 'Advaita'.

 

[Twilight Hue]

The elements of life originated from stars in outer space. Hydrogen, Helium and Carbon. It is quite the conundrum to try to understand how consciousness arose from the chemistry of these basic elements. The only reasonable thing we can deduce is that consciousness is universal.

I tend to think biological viruses hold a clue. There's also something called reactive matter that can do all sorts of weird things when stimulated.

 

[godnotgod]

All things.

It's not so much that 'all things' are conscious. We now know, via Quantum Field Theory, that all 'particles' are fluctuations in the surrounding energy field, like bumps of energy, rather than real, material 'things' called 'particles'. Likewise, on the macro scale, there are no such 'things'; there are forms we confuse for things, where all such 'things' are completely interconnected with all other 'things', and which co-arise together. It is not the material world, whether living or inert, that is conscious; it is that consciousness is what is manifesting all 'things' as 'things'. This universal consciousness is the fundamental reality, with 'things' being what it manifests as 'the world'. In scientific terms, this underlying field would be The Unified Field, and in the world of the mystic, it is 'Pure Abstract Intelligence'.

 

[godnotgod]

Maybe if we come to the point of being able to create something with enough complexity, we will find that consciousness emerges from it.

Ha ha...or that the absolutely simplest condition is consciousness itself. Simple, like Nothing, which is not in Time or Space, and not subject to Causation....like consciousness is. Consciousness just is, and Everything follows from that 'Is-ness'. So we are asking the wrong question. We want to know the origin of consciousness, but there is none. But the origin of the world is consciousness. The Big Bang was (is) an event in Consciousness. No Time. No Space. No Causation. Nothing. The perfect condition for Everything to come into play.

"The Universe is The Absolute, as seen through the glass of Time, Space, and Causation"
Vivekenanda

 

[Nakosis]

Ha ha...or that the absolutely simplest condition is consciousness itself. Simple, like Nothing, which is not in Time or Space, and not subject to Causation....like consciousness is. Consciousness just is, and Everything follows from that 'Is-ness'. So we are asking the wrong question. We want to know the origin of consciousness, but there is none. But the origin of the world is consciousness. The Big Bang was (is) an event in Consciousness. No Time. No Space. No Causation. Nothing. The perfect condition for Everything to come into play.

"The Universe is The Absolute, as seen through the glass of Time, Space, and Causation"
Vivekenanda

As good a story as any. At one time, I thought this was a possibility as well, but what do I know?

 

[Mock Turtle]

The elements of life originated from stars in outer space. Hydrogen, Helium and Carbon. It is quite the conundrum to try to understand how consciousness arose from the chemistry of these basic elements. The only reasonable thing we can deduce is that consciousness is universal.

That's hardly the conclusion I would arrive at. Working back from what we as humans seem to have via various other life-forms, and the various levels of consciousness that we might infer they have, it seems to me that consciousness had its origins in memory at some level. That is, that it was in memory, and how it was manipulated that perhaps consciousness formed. Who knows at what level of complexity consciousness arose though. It is almost certainly present in a wide variety of other species I would think but no doubt different from human consciousness.