Consciousness (Introduction)

by David Turell , Friday, October 01, 2010, 18:19 (5146 days ago)

Are only the highest primates self-aware? Monkeys are borderline self-aware from the current research. How much consciouness do they have?-http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/57730/-And I've had a further thought (dangerous) about artificial consciousness. As everyone knows I don't think a complete man-made brain will ever exist, equal to ours. And the thought: some people can be hypnotized and some of their 'free will' seems to be subverted. I know there are limits beyond which the hypnotized subject will not go. If we develop a computerized 'brain' can it be hypnotized, and if not, is that a proof that it is not really conscious? How does hypnotism fit into our discussion of what is consciousness?