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Is Consciousness a Fundamental Property of the Universe?

Ree Zen February 13, 2022 at 19:31 1375 views 2 comments
The Fundamental Properties of the Universe:
1. Space
2. Matter
3. Motion
4, Time
5. Dark Matter/Energy

Matter, Motion and Time are closely related and they are interdependent. Within the parameters of these are the fundamental forces of Nature:

1. Gravity
2. Electromagnetic
3. Weak and Strong Nuclear Forces

We sense the existence of these Fundamental Properties wherever we observe in the Universe. To sense some of these we can rely on our sense of sight, the ability to sense light. For the reset of these, we need to depend on our cognition to know they exist.

To know that another cognition exists, we consciously look to see if the laws of gravity and motion are being glitched. Once we see that happening, it is reliably explained as being the result of a consciousness at work. But who is to say if a consciousness exists without showing itself, blending directly with the other observable laws of physics? At the extreme if this, I can imagine a single isolated particle, say a Carbon atom: 6 protons, 6 neutrons, 6 electrons- and two single thoughts attributed to the C atom: a desire to maintain its shape and latch on to 2 more electrons. No awareness of itself or the world around it, but desirous to maintain its shape and latch on to two electrons. As it latches on to other atoms, it "thoughts" become different.

The number and variety of atoms bound together does not influence the emergence of reproductive desires or what is classified as "life." To be classified as life, atoms must be combined in a particular way (the DNA or RNA molecule). Otherwise a primitive or ultrasimple thought or consciousness could exist in every form of matter (affective motion).

If this is the case, the emergence of complex consciousness in the Universe is inevitable and the problem of consciousness is explainable as a brute or straightforward fact of the Universe with no explanation for its existence needed.

Comments (2)

MAYAEL March 12, 2022 at 00:00 #665813
Nope
Paul March 15, 2022 at 06:01 #667208
Consciousness can be a fundamental property of the universe, but only if you reduce consciousness to an essentially meaningless property which only takes on meaning when associated with the complex interactive patterns of brains. In which case, you're really just playing with words. And at any rate your argument doesn't follow.

Life is a completely separate issue from consciousness, as easily proved by hitting yourself on the head -- or experiencing a dreamless sleep tonight. And life is not defined by combination of atoms using DNA/RNA, life is defined as "the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death."