Consciousness: Dennett says it is an illusion (General)

by dhw, Wednesday, November 06, 2019, 08:20 (1843 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: I don’t know why you have now decided to switch this discussion to your theory of evolution. The subject is consciousness and its possible origin: 1) pure energy which is already fully conscious (theism); 2) materials combining by chance (atheism); 3) some form of consciousness already present in all materials (panpsychism). I have already said that I find all three equally difficult to believe in. On the subject of evolution, please see “David’s Theory of Evolution”.

DAVID: But it is you who look to pantheism [dhw: sic: you meant panpsychism] as a form of consciousness which can cause new species, or is my interpretation of your thoughts wrong.

We are discussing the origin of consciousness and your proposal that “everything is material at the basis of the universe”, whereas in fact you believe that the basis of the universe and of consciousness is immaterial, in the form of “pure energy”. I went on to say I found both concepts equally difficult to believe in as the source of life, consciousness and the ability to reproduce and evolve. You asked if there was a third option, and I said this was panpsychism, but this can be used to support atheism as well as theism. I do not support or “look to” any of these three options as credible solutions to life’s mysteries, which is why I remain agnostic, while acknowledging that at least one of them must be nearer the truth than the others.