Discussion: What is Consciousness?

Topic: What is Consciousness?

Moderator: Mimi L

Human beings have a distinct sense of self which we’ve been philosophizing about for thousands of years. René Descartes defined the notion of thought in terms of reflexive consciousness. (“I think therefore I am.”) Sigmund Freud was among the first to attempt a scientific study of consciousness through psychology. In the first part of the twentieth century, behaviorists such as B.F. Skinner reduced the study of consciousness to the outward behavior of stimulus-response, which they believed was the only way science could study it objectively. Twenty-first century theorists such as Sam Harris and Daniel Dennett maintain that we are nothing but “moist robots” (phrase coined by Dilbert creator Scott Adams), proposing that consciousness is nothing but an illusion. Sir Roger Penrose proposes that consciousness is not a mere “computation” and that an alternative physics linking classical physics to quantum physics is needed to explain it.

· Does consciousness exist, or are we nothing more than moist robots?

· How does our brain create consciousness?

· Are Freud’s Three Levels of Mind relevant?

· Does consciousness permeate the universe?

· Do other terrestrial life forms share with us any level of consciousness?

If anyone has a favorite book, article, or video on this topic, feel free to share it in the Meetup comments. Your moderator’s knowledge of this topic barely scratches the surface. Thanks!

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-consciousness-2795922

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/consciousness/

Lecture by Anil Seth: The Neuroscience of Consciousness

Roger Penrose interview

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