Human Consciousness: stimuli, analog to digital (Humans)

by dhw, Monday, September 19, 2016, 13:24 (2986 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: You know that I accept the complexity argument, and I have the greatest respect for your faith. I have merely pointed out that your beliefs are not based on EXPERIMENTAL evidence, as you claimed above. Experimental evidence suggests that the truth of your belief can be scientifically tested, and it can't. -DAVID: I reach a point from scientific evidence to conclude that beyond a doubt God exists. Then my belief appears. I know my belief isn't proof.-All agreed. But my complaint is against your claim that your belief is based on EXPERIMENTAL evidence.-dhw: In our discussions on evolution, I have based a design theory on the findings of some eminent biologists, who claim that microorganisms are sentient, intelligent, cognitive beings. You insist that an organism without a brain cannot be conscious (not to be confused with human self-awareness), even though you contradict yourself through your belief that consciousness does not depend on the brain.-DAVID: You have forgotten that I believe consciousness is received by the brain, but is its own separate entity that that survives without a functional brain episode as in NDE's. Apparently you only accept that only a brain can make a consciousness. I don't.-NDEs are one of the reasons why I do NOT accept the materialist explanation, and so I remain open-minded on the source of consciousness. What you do not seem to grasp is that by insisting that bacteria cannot be conscious because they do not have a brain, you are contradicting your OWN belief that consciousness does not depend on having a brain.