If we consider, for a moment, Niels Bohr's 'Copenhagen Interpretation' of Quantum Mechanics which states that all energy (including basic particles) exist as a wave, and only on observation by a conscious entity does this wave "collapse" and become a particle - Electrons, Light, Atoms etc all behave in this way - then I suggest that Consciousness also behaves this way. If Collective Consciousness is indeed a wave then I think we all, as conscious beings, collapse that wave and create particles of Subjective Consciousness, which is, in effect, ourselves; our experiences and our empirical life. In essence, that we are all one Consciousness experiencing itself Subjectively.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thoughts on Consciousness
I've spent a great deal of time over the past few years trying to wrap my mind around the subject of human consciousness. Over time I've come up with some of my own ideas as to the inner workings of the mind. I recently found similar ideas beautifully expressed on the blog of Anthony Peake, author of "Is There Life After Death."
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32 comments:
Well that just clears everything up quite nicely.
Very heavy stuff. Now if I can just get my wave to collapse and create the kind of particles that make my mass look like it did when I was 17, my subjective consciousness would look pretty darn good.
And I mean that in the most humble and sincere way.
Isn't he the guy that said "An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field." ?? I would like to find an easy read about the subject of quantum physics using laymans term. Any suggestions RAC?
Actually Juls, the book mentioned in the post does as good a job as any I've recently read. And for the record, I'm sure you have a perfectly fine mass
How is it that all particles act in the same way? This is true as we know, but what 'force' is behind this to enforce and maintain this 'law' (God)? And is matter...only matter if being abserved by a Consciouness of some type. Must a Universe be observable to make it real? And I can't wait to sit down and have and intellectual chat with you dude! :)
Great questions Ric. What if consciousness is a force in the Universe, much like gravity, and we its consumers? Maybe all matter becomes self-conscious through the entanglement of its parts? It could be a rock knows it's a rock and therefore requires no outside observer to make it so?
If a rock does have a consciousness, we are unable to determain so far at our scientific stage. OK...if we were not around to observe the rock and the rock still excisted, therefore it must have a concsiouness in order to exist. I believe; for an object to exist, it must be observed. If a tree falls in the woods and no person or animal is around to hear it, did it make any sound? We know now that it did make sound, because plants do react to stimuli. I believe we live in a living Universe, we are alive to observe it. Shoot, I could go on and on, but I don't want to bore the rest of the gang.
Your so right RAC! If a rock has self consciouness (which it probably does on one level of another), it needs no out side observation. It exists because it knows it exists.
"I think therefore I am"
René Descartes (1596 – 1650)
I was just thinking that same quote.
Here is a deep thinker for you RAC: All time is inter-twined, some how. We are aware of our current consciouness. When we sleep our conciouness is on continueing. Now our own conscious minds must continue even after this life, other wise we would not be aware of our own current consciouness. And if there is no consciouness after this life, then we must exist in this life forever. I had better stop, I'm scaring myself.
Ouch, that made my head hurt. I never have understood the whole time/space thing so you have me at a definite disadvantage here.
I will say I believe consciousness is essentially a frequency and has a range much like the electromagnetic spectrum. As individuals we operate at a specific frequency within that spectrum (think radio station). Using the radio analogy, I believe we always exist in potential; it's only when the radio is tuned to our specific frequency that our consciousness manifests in this physical world.
"I think - therefore i SPAM!"
Senator Mark - Alupang Island
Hey RAC, if you want to once and for all solve the mystery of life, and/or life after death, there is only one book that exists on earth today that accurately and precisely explains it all. This book has been around for centuries, and once searched and absorbed, will become your rock. That book my friend, is the Bible.
I'm going to resist the temptation to weigh in on what can be a deeply personal and potentially contentious religious/philosophical/meaning of life discussion and instead choose to ponder Juls' mass.
You all are heavy man. and woman:) , Wow what deep thoughts from dean'scircle.blogspot.com. kids at the time...we all had very different but alike stories and may we all get together and share what we have in common,not our differences:) Peace Out, as my daughter says...
Great, now you tell me. You should have explained this to me while we were tripping on acid down on the beach; you could have saved me a lot of wasted time contemplating irrelevant authors.
All kidding aside, I actually have read the Bible and found it can be quite inspiring. How do you think I came up with all these crazy ideas?
Now, about Juls mass...
I doubt that any human being will ever unravel all these mysteries here on earth or in the universe. The human mind just isn't capable or intelligent enough to understand them, especially without faith in the ultimate devine force that made it all happen.
Dave, you are so right! The Bible does have the answer. But I still can't help but to contimplate what was before and what will be after.
Juls, truer words have yet to be written here. I am humbled by your thoughts.
To each his/her own. That's what I think. Yet, I still believe my Dad is around me along with my step-mom. Consciousness is what we take in,like a computer, so to speak. When we die, aren't we still there...maybe another dimension that they,as far as I know is up to 11?:)
So Dave, I have to admit I have been bothered by your recent comments on this thread and thought I should express why. First, I will tell you it has nothing to do with your referencing the Bible in your argument. Although I am not a religious man, I also am not a closed minded man. I can tell you I have drank from that well many times in my search for truth. What bothers me about your comments is I found them to be both self-righteous and medieval.
Self-righteous in that you imply to have discovered all the answers to life (and death) and yet fail to provide them in your argument. If you have found these answers then why not bring them forth? Are we not your brothers and sisters here? Share with us the fruits of your labor and tell us what you have found. Make your argument with sustenance rather than just empty words. I welcome and respect your ideas Dave. It would be an honor to know the why and where of your thoughts; I suspect I would have much to learn.
I found your comments medieval in that I took them as intending to stifle the conversation rather than add to it. The same argument was made against Galileo when the Church imprisoned him for looking into the Heavens. Scientific and philosophic thought is not the devil and need not exist outside one’s spiritual beliefs. Some of the greatest scientists and philosophers the world has known were also deeply religious men; Galileo, Newton and the father of the big-bang theory, Monsignor Georges LeMaitre (a Roman Catholic priest) to name a few.
I understand there is a deep riff between the scientific and religious communities but I would argue that need not be so... at least not here. Let us rise above the pettiness and exchange ideas in an open and civil manner. Some of my most memorable conversations in the Circle revolved around religion and the meaning of life. I for one would welcome that kind of discussion here. This blog contains one of the most diverse groups of people you will find anywhere; it would be a shame if we didn’t put that to good use.
So that’s my two cents. If I misread your intention then I apologize here and now. And still, I stand by my own intent. If we are to be truly a circle of friends then we must act like one. Let us share our thoughts, our hopes and our dreams. The diversity of this group should be reflected in its writing. And that my friend is our legacy.
Rac, why should my comments bother you? Our blog is all over the place with many different opinions and beliefs... as it should be. All I know is that I have found the answer to my own personal wandering. I don't have to look any further or continue to doubt that what I have discovered is real. I'm not deep or philosophical, I'm not a man of many words. But to sum it all up as simply as possible, my faith and hope is found in John 3:16; "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The reason I have come to trust in this belief, is because I have been on death's doorstep a few times and came to realize that without God, I was lost. In my humble opinion, only God is righteous, not me. That's all... friend.
And Doug, since when have you ever resisted the temptation to weigh in on something controversial?
Since I got married.
Doug, I'm on my 2nd (and hopefully final) marriage. You thought that I would have learned what you have learned already.
Thanks for the clarity Dave. I look forward to hearing more. The experiences of this group are too amazing (I'm sure) to waste by not sharing them.
And speaking of holding out... DOUG. You know, you could have shared that advice with me 2 marriages ago. Thanks buddy (actually it probably wouldn't have helped anyway; as this blog has proven, one of the other things my Father left me was the inability to keep my mouth shut).
Let's agree to disagree:)
You know....I must say that I respect Dave's and the RAC'meisters point of views equally. I am a 'total' believer in the 'Holy Bible', and an amature whom studies the dirrent sciences. As far as I can tell, the more sience advances, the more sience proves the Bible is correct.
When we are conscious, we realize that we're here in the now.When we are unconscious,then we don't have any realization of where we are at all.At least that's what my Dad told me:)
Seems our little blog has garnered some attention. I received an email from the author I quoted in the original message of this thread, Karl L Le Marcs. Below are his comments:
Hello everyone, I am the author of the original blog post which was quoted here.
Firstly, thank you to RAC for quoting from my post on the “Cheating The Ferryman” Blogspot.
My "Collapsing The Consciousness Wave Theory" arose as a direct result of reading Anthony Peake's book "Is There Life After Death? The Extraordinary Science Of What Happens When We Die" and subsequent lengthy ale-infused discussions with the author.
Please take the time to read my full post (link below) and the extensive comments left by fellow bloggers which has become in itself a cerebral carnival of consciousness.
The Sensation of Being Stared At
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