http://www.theemotionmachine.com/the-hard-problem-of-consciousness-is-science-in-need-of-another-cognitive-revolution The Space Between Mind and World Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:43:50 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 http://www.theemotionmachine.com/the-hard-problem-of-consciousness-is-science-in-need-of-another-cognitive-revolution/comment-page-1#comment-1361 John Faupel Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:49:07 +0000 http://www.theemotionmachine.com/?p=1454#comment-1361 By processing data through their senses, all species are to some extent able to experience their environment but are they actually consciously aware of it? A fox caught in a gin trap must feel pain but, without a sense of self, is it actually aware that it is itself that is feeling that pain? This sense of 'self', which comes from being consciously aware is, I believe, what makes us humans different form other species. We do not simply experience pain and pleasure, we are also aware that we are experiencing it because we have evolved a neurological sense of self-consciousness that has conditioned us to actually feel alive rather than simply be alive. Even though an infant inheirts the neurology to feel its environmental experiences, it needs to acquire some knowledge of the world and of itself before it can recognise these feelings and become aware of them. This it quickly does: for example, the taste or touch of a mother will begin to condition its neurons to associate the experience with nourishment and comfort etc. and, in general, by similarly trying to understand the world and our place in it, is exactly how the whole of human culture has developed over the last 5 or 6 million years. By processing data through their senses, all species are to some extent able to experience their environment but are they actually consciously aware of it? A fox caught in a gin trap must feel pain but, without a sense of self, is it actually aware that it is itself that is feeling that pain? This sense of ’self’, which comes from being consciously aware is, I believe, what makes us humans different form other species. We do not simply experience pain and pleasure, we are also aware that we are experiencing it because we have evolved a neurological sense of self-consciousness that has conditioned us to actually feel alive rather than simply be alive. Even though an infant inheirts the neurology to feel its environmental experiences, it needs to acquire some knowledge of the world and of itself before it can recognise these feelings and become aware of them. This it quickly does: for example, the taste or touch of a mother will begin to condition its neurons to associate the experience with nourishment and comfort etc. and, in general, by similarly trying to understand the world and our place in it, is exactly how the whole of human culture has developed over the last 5 or 6 million years.

]]> http://www.theemotionmachine.com/the-hard-problem-of-consciousness-is-science-in-need-of-another-cognitive-revolution/comment-page-1#comment-1052 Heather Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:38:46 +0000 http://www.theemotionmachine.com/?p=1454#comment-1052 I love the collaboration that's going on right now in neuroscience and other disciplines. It promises to remove the obstacles that are blocking full understanding of mind and consciousness. I love the collaboration that’s going on right now in neuroscience and other disciplines. It promises to remove the obstacles that are blocking full understanding of mind and consciousness.

]]> http://www.theemotionmachine.com/the-hard-problem-of-consciousness-is-science-in-need-of-another-cognitive-revolution/comment-page-1#comment-1046 Flashmob Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:00:18 +0000 http://www.theemotionmachine.com/?p=1454#comment-1046 bookmarked, i will add your homepage to my toolbar bookmarked, i will add your homepage to my toolbar

]]> http://www.theemotionmachine.com/the-hard-problem-of-consciousness-is-science-in-need-of-another-cognitive-revolution/comment-page-1#comment-409 David Chalmers On The Science Of Consciousness | The Emotion Machine Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:30:08 +0000 http://www.theemotionmachine.com/?p=1454#comment-409 [...] 1. The Hard Problem Of Consciousness: Is Science In Need Of Another Cognitive Revolution? [...] [...] 1. The Hard Problem Of Consciousness: Is Science In Need Of Another Cognitive Revolution? [...]

]]> http://www.theemotionmachine.com/the-hard-problem-of-consciousness-is-science-in-need-of-another-cognitive-revolution/comment-page-1#comment-254 Psychology Articles Carnival – Issue 3 - Generally Thinking Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:12:34 +0000 http://www.theemotionmachine.com/?p=1454#comment-254 [...] Handel presents The Hard Problem Of Consciousness: Is Science In Need Of Another Cognitive Revolution? posted at The Emotion [...] [...] Handel presents The Hard Problem Of Consciousness: Is Science In Need Of Another Cognitive Revolution? posted at The Emotion [...]

]]> http://www.theemotionmachine.com/the-hard-problem-of-consciousness-is-science-in-need-of-another-cognitive-revolution/comment-page-1#comment-186 Brain Blogging, Forty-Seventh Edition | Brain Blogger Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:06:44 +0000 http://www.theemotionmachine.com/?p=1454#comment-186 [...] Emotion Machine writes The Hard Problem Of Consciousness: Is Science In Need Of Another Cognitive Revolution?: Searle, a self-proclaimed biological naturalist, believes that consciousness can be solely [...] [...] Emotion Machine writes The Hard Problem Of Consciousness: Is Science In Need Of Another Cognitive Revolution?: Searle, a self-proclaimed biological naturalist, believes that consciousness can be solely [...]

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