I am going to have a go at the idea of consciousness.
'Consciousness is the state or quality of awareness, or, of being aware of an external object or something within oneself.' Wikipedia
Several research scientists are looking into the role of the brain in creating that state. Here are links to some of the work:
1. Christof Koch "https://futurism.com/new-find-may-explain-how-the-brain-creates-consciousness/"
2. "https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2016/04/19/how-does-the-human-brain-create-consciousness/#ed874b4661a5"
I kind of like Koch's idea that there is a web of neurons which spread over the brain's surface and provide connections to some of the brain structures. This idea might support my thought.
Think for a moment of a dog chasing a ball. The first time that the ball is thrown in that particular field, I expect that the dog simply focuses on the ball without paying attention to the field or the thrower. The dog is living in the moment. It is fair to say that the dog is not conscious of the moment.
Perhaps the next time the ball is thrown, it takes a hop in a direction different from the previous throw. Our dog reacts to the direction change by adjusting his body to follow the new path.
Perhaps he also says to himself - 'wait a minute, the ball bounced differently this time. Maybe I should react differently next time to allow for the possibility of different hops.'
Some part of the dog's brain - perhaps Koch's 'claustrum' - compares the first and second memory and makes a notation: 'I must back off a bit and allow for the possibility of at least two different directions.'
I submit that would be 'conscious' for the dog.
Extrapolating the idea to humans, perhaps our larger brains allow us to make countless notes about differences in how the world works.
If so, that may explain the idea of 'consciousness'.
UPDATE - An article on brain research which may explain it: http://www.physics-astronomy.org/2017/10/researchers-found-multidimensional.html
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Sunday, June 24, 2018
WAR and USEFUL IDIOTS
Russia under Putin is systematically attacking the organizations and institutions which provide the United States, NATO and the EU their well being.
It is cyber warfare.
The goal is to destabilize NATO, the EU and the United States. If Putin's war succeeds, then the West will see chaos, depression and political instability.
In this war, Putin uses whatever tools he can. One of those tools are people he calls 'USEFUL IDIOTS'.
USEFUL IDIOTS are people who support Russia's destabilizing tactics without knowing they are doing so.
trump and his administration charitably can be called USEFUL IDIOTS since many of their actions are aiding in the destruction of the NATO, the EU and the United states.
There is the possibility that some of trump's supporters are in fact Russian agents or assets.
But, whether or not they are assets or idiots, the damage they do is real.
It is a war.
AND, it is time to choose sides.
Either you can stand with Putin and chaos or you can stand with the United States, NATO and the EU and democracy and prosperity.
I choose to stand with the United States, NATO and the EU.
Where do you stand??
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