Closer To Truth: The Brain And The Mind

There is an ongoing PBS TV series (also several books and additionally a internet site) referred to as "Closer To Truth". It is hosted by means of neuroscientist Robert Lawrence Kuhn. He's featured in one-on-one interviews and panel discussions with the cream of the cream of modern cosmologists, physicists, philosophers, theologians, psychologists, etc. On all the Big Questions surrounding a trilogy of large topics - Cosmos; Consciousness; Meaning. The trilogy collectively handled fact, area and time, thoughts and attention, aliens, theology and on and on and on. Here are some of my feedback on one in all the general topics included, topics dealing with the mind and the mind.

What Things are Conscious?

Consciousness is just awareness. It consists of awareness of your instantaneous surroundings as in that clap of thunder. It consists of recognition of the country of your body as in I'm hungry or I'm worn-out or my knee hurts. It includes awareness of what's to your thoughts as in will he inquire from me to marry him on our date this night. In that experience, all residing things have cognizance on account that all cells ought to be aware of at the least the nation of their immediately environment and respond therefore. So all residing matters are aware, albeit to varying ranges. However, if I practice that assertion, "to be aware about at least the nation in their immediately environment and reply consequently", then I might must renowned that the essential debris are aware (and feature a few degree of loose will in their response). I'll simply cite one instance for the sake of being brief. An electron gun fires an electron at  side-by-side slits. If one or the opposite slit is open, the electron will skip via and effect in a single spot on a detector display contrary. If each slits are open, the electron will go through each slits through shape-moving into a wave, interfering with itself (as waves tend to do) however the detector screen contrary will nonetheless report the effect of a particle. However, if one slit is open, then many electrons fired one after another will bypass thru that one slit and will hit that one or very close to that one lone spot at the detector screen. If each slits are open, even though every character electron that passes thru both slits simultaneously (as an apparent wave) may be recorded as hitting one and most effective one spot on the detector display screen as it morphs from particle to wave and returned to particle again, the sum total of many electron hits will show the smear or spread of a traditional wave interference pattern, despite the fact that one electron is fired and as a result recorded at the detector display screen before the following electron is fired. Now the implication is that any person electron is aware and aware of whether one slit or both slits are open, and its behaviour changes hence. Further, all electrons are aware of what all of the different electrons did and where they impacted before it have become its flip. In other words, an electron heading in the direction of both slits being open, no longer simplest is privy to that reality, however apparently knows whilst it morphs lower back into an electron after having surpassed through both slits at the equal time, not to effect exactly wherein the previous electron impacted, but to pick a pick an effect factor a good way to uphold the wave interference sample. What things are aware? Maybe at the maximum fundamental level all things are aware.

Why a Mind-Body Problem?

Is there a mind-frame trouble? Is the bodily (frame and brain) and the mental (thoughts) definitely  absolutely separate and aside things each ruled by using differing laws, standards and relationships? Probably now not, because that could endorse that the mind has an unbiased lifestyles separate and other than the frame and mind. Can the mind exist independently of the body/mind? Can the body/brain exist independently of the thoughts? Well the thoughts cannot exist independently of the body and the mind. Destroy the frame; spoil the mind and what are you left with? I very lots doubt your thoughts remains intact and questioning wherein the body and brain were given to. On the alternative hand, you may be mind-dead due to considerable ailment or damage to the brain or mind chemistry, yet each the brain and the body can be externally supported on lifestyles help and therefore be technically alive. But there may be no mind to be had despite the fact that the mind and the body are artificially being stored ticking over. Should the frame and the mind end up recuperating following such heroic scientific efforts that doesn't imply that the mind will reappear. How many cases have there been of existence help being terminated because despite the fact that the brain and body can be technically saved alive almost indefinitely, there may be no hope that the thoughts will ever come returned. So, the thoughts is a hundred% depending on the functioning mind and frame; the frame and the mind isn't depending on the viability of an intact and absolutely functioning thoughts. The thoughts and the body are related with the mind subservient to the frame/mind. The mind has no separate and apart life.

Are Brain and Mind the Same Thing?

The thoughts and the brain are not synonymous. The brain can exert control over the frame in regions that the mind cannot as in that autonomous worried machine which makes certain your heart beats and your lungs breathe while your mind sleeps. In truth your mind often does a disconnect and no longer just when you sleep however whilst you lose cognizance for any motive, say passing out for loss of oxygen. However, your mind is on duty, on the process, 24/7/fifty two. Even if your mind is huge wakeful, your thoughts, your self-attention, can't will your coronary heart to prevent beating or your lungs to prevent breathing. Your thoughts has no final say in denying feeling thirsty or hungry or worn-out. The brain in the end regulations the roost. The brain manifestly exists and features even if the mind is in limbo-land; but the mind is never on the task whilst the brain is in limbo-land. No mind equals no mind, but no mind doesn't translate into no brain. That's a no-brainer!

Does Brain Make Mind?

I assume that it's far tremendously easy to conceive of a brain with out a mind however rather hard to conceive of a mind current without a mind. Mind is related to consciousness in trendy and self-cognizance mainly, inclusive of all the ones types of matters referred to like sensations, thoughts, cognitions, intentions and emotions. However, while you are asleep, or handed out inebriated, or knocked subconscious, or under anaesthesia even as underneath the knife, your thoughts is in in no way-in no way-land. Yet one might be as an alternative tough-pressed to signify that your mind changed into in never-never-land while asleep, drunk, etc. If the mind must be destroyed, properly the mind is going too, however as I've already pointed out, lack of mind would not mean loss of mind. So, the brain and the mind are truly related with the mind subservient to the mind. So, does the mind make a thoughts? Well the mind can not make the brain!

Anything Non-physical about the Mind?

To my way of thinking, the time period "non-bodily" implies that there is not any count or power worried in some thing you're making use of non-bodily to. The mind is generated by the electric (strength) and chemical (count) techniques of the mind. If you stop all electrical and chemically brought about mind activity, well this is a quite true definition of being brain dead, and consequently biologically lifeless except an synthetic source of chemicals and strength is carried out to preserve the body ticking over, as in being on lifestyles help. Regardless, if you are mind lifeless, you're thoughts lifeless. If there was some thing non-bodily about mental hobby then probably the mind should still be ticking over internal a lifeless brain. Why does that strike me as being not likely in the extreme? Maybe it's due to the fact it's miles not likely in the acute.

What's the Meaning of Consciousness?

Consciousness has which means, or at least meaning in an evolutionary feel; in a survival-of-the-fittest experience; as a result of natural selection. Consciousness is cognizance. If you aren't aware then you have no focus, and when you have no awareness or consciousness of what is going on around you, then the percentages are quite high that you are not going to be passing to your genes to the subsequent generation. Consciousness may have began out as a random coincidence; however that consciousness ought to still exist nowadays way you do not need philosophical jargon or metaphysical waffle to explain cognizance. Charles Darwin did that job for you over one hundred fifty years ago.

What's the Essence of Consciousness?

The essence of awareness is recognition. In fact IMHO the two phrases are synonymous. That recognition can be 3-fold. Firstly, you are aware or aware of your outside environment. You see the lightning; you hear the thunder; you experience the wind; you scent dinner cooking; you taste the meals. Secondly you're aware of, or privy to, the nation of your frame. Your coronary heart is beating hastily; you've got acid indigestion; you're sleepy; your nose is itchy. Lastly, you're conscious of, or privy to, the inner workings of your mind that come to the fore. You are depressed on the ever ongoing gloomy, cold and damp winter climate. You grieve over the demise of your pet. You think which you'd higher begin to get dinner on the range. You believe all the candies you're going to shop for at the start of the mid-season income. So, a trilogy of sides of truth (surroundings, body, and thoughts) that requires your attention and consequently has your cognizance, is the essence of your cognizance.

Does Consciousness have Purpose?

Does attention have a purpose? You better consider it! Consciousness is simply recognition, an consciousness of the external surroundings, an recognition of the frame, and recognition of the mind. When it comes to managing all that existence throws at you, and I don't imply just humans and simply now, however all lifestyles paperwork that have survived, even thrived for the duration of geological time, then attention is a must a part of your arsenal. If an organism has no attention, no awareness of what goes on round and internal of it, it isn't going to survive, and consequently hardly thrive, for terribly lengthy. If there may be prey or predators for your on the spot environment, you want to take heed to that. If your frame tells you it's time to mate, you would higher be aware of that too otherwise you are not going to pass for your genes. If your sensory equipment indicators you to hazard, then your mind has to determine to combat or make flight. An organism's very ability to survive is totally depending on it having a few degree of consciousness or cognizance. Survival, it truly is the cause of cognizance.

Does Human Consciousness have Special Purpose?

The phrase "special cause" implies a few kind of direction or design imposed on our recognition. Purpose might be the result of natural selection, more likely as now not our recognition increases the possibilities for survival and hence the potential to bypass on our genetics to the next technology, but "unique" motive is heads and shoulders above that idea. Perhaps, if we 'live' as simulated beings in a Simulated (Virtual Reality) Universe, then we were programmed with a unique cause attention with a view to perpetuate the lifestyles of simulations. We are the Supreme Programmer's way of creating further simulations on down the road, much like the chook is an egg's way of making more eggs.

Is Consciousness an Illusion?

Is consciousness an phantasm? Well, if it's far, you're now not going to continue to exist and thrive for very long. Consciousness is your consciousness, consciousness of the country of your current surroundings, awareness of the kingdom of your frame in the right here and now, and consciousness of your modern-day and ongoing mental kingdom. If your external surroundings is an phantasm, in case your frame is an illusion then I guess you're only a brain-in-a-vat since at least your modern-day intellectual nation can't be illusionary - "I think therefore I am" I agree with is the applicable quote. You reply to what your attention tells you (that is self-awareness) as in it's far raining outdoor so up is going the umbrella; I keep yawning so perhaps I ought to get a few shut-eye; I hate my next door neighbour so I'm going round the corner and shoot him. My variation at the well-known quote is therefore "I reply, therefore I am." If you observed (consciousness) and in case you reply (self-focus) then it's alternatively unlikely which you are giving upward thrust to thoughts or actions which are in reaction to illusionary stimuli. If the stimuli isn't illusionary, then your awareness of it, your cognizance, is not illusionary either.

Why did Consciousness Emerge?

Although it might seem that once coming to phrases with quantum physics one desires to deal with the plain awareness (or attention) possessed with the aid of the elementary debris, and accordingly one could argue that attention emerged on the very Big Bang beginning, I'll ignore that and simply assign consciousness as an emergent property of lifestyles that's pretty a whole lot what the consensus is. Now I equate focus with cognizance. Any unicellular critter or mobile that emerged from any form of primeval soup had to emerge with cognizance intact; as part of the biochemical apparatus of that dwelling structure, or else. Survival of the fittest started out in earnest from the very beginnings or origins of life, or almost from the start, once life-paperwork needed to begin ingesting different lifestyles-paperwork, that's to mention whilst the vitamins of the primeval soup had been depleted. These first unicellular critters had to be conscious that there were nutrients available in the primeval soup, then conscious that different critters had been ability prey or predators. If they did now not emerge with that awareness, or focus, they did not live on, a long way much less thrive. So, it isn't surprising that consciousness, or awareness, emerged nearly cheek-with the aid of-jowl with the first actual existence paperwork. Awareness has survival cost even now, just as it became within the beginning.

Quantum Physics of Consciousness

There are micro happenings which are simply too small to have any widespread effect within the macro realm. A baseball that hits the outfield wall out in Yankee Stadium isn't going to wreck the ballpark. Photons of mild have electricity however in case you go out into the daylight you are as an alternative not going to be knocked flat to your again. You may have a wave-feature but no one is probably to peer you in two places, or see you each useless and alive, at the identical time. If the Earth went down a Black Hole, the Black Hole could remember the Earth simply some other minor cosmic snack. If one individual runs within the opposite route to the Earth's spin, the world nevertheless goes on turning as it must. And so it's miles with consciousness. The chemistry, the chemical compounds, the physiological systems that in the end manage focus are an excessive amount of within the macro realm for quantum effects to have a good deal, if any, effect.

Is Consciousness Entirely Physical?

Yes, consciousness is absolutely physical. The proof of that pudding is that you may trade the country of your consciousness through the intake of bodily materials. Such materials include widely recognized drugs, each criminal and illegal. So can certain ingredients. A loss of oxygen will modify your cognizance country of play. A physical disorder can change your kingdom of consciousness; ditto a physical damage inclusive of one ensuing in amnesia. A exchange on your bodily or frame chemistry such as your mind will trade the state of your recognition, as in going to sleep. Sleep can be induced through an anaesthetic that is truly a physical substance. Getting away from human beings, you would be difficult pressed to say that a cat underneath the impact of catnip has the equal state of focus as a cat not under the impact of catnip.

Does Consciousness Cause the Cosmos 1?

Assuming that the cosmos isn't a simulation however a virtually actual location, and assuming that simplest living things exhibit cognizance, then focus performed no part inside the advent, or maybe the early evolution of the cosmos. If the Big Bang event state of affairs is accurate, even inside the broadest context, then at once submit Big bang, and in all likelihood for quite some time thereafter, the cosmos become not even close to being a Goldilocks Universe and hence the cosmos was with out existence and with out awareness. Immediately pre Big Bang, assuming a before the Big Bang (which I do), the situations might also now not were suitable for life, as say in any Big Crunch that would of eventuated simply earlier than the Big Bang. Any time near that Big Bang occasion, on either side of that Big Bang event, isn't always a time any intelligent and conscious lifestyles forms might need to find themselves in. As we observe in the movies, and in real conflict, any time that bomb is set to head off is a good time to head inside the opposite path. Unfortunately, in space-time both aspect of the Big Bang event, there might not have been every other path to move into. And so the chances suggest no lifestyles and no awareness pre Big Bang as well as submit Big Bang and for this reason focus performed no function in and across the Big Bang event.

Does Consciousness Cause the Cosmos 2?

One viable form of truth is that lifestyles, the universe and everything is a wetware simulation. It is probably which you have imagined or dreamed or daydreamed up the complete cosmos from scratch and that each one fact simply exists on your mind; to your recognition or perhaps unconscious. Or, possibly a person (or something) else has consciously or possibly subconsciously dreamed up lifestyles, the universe and the entirety and you're part of their mentally-generated reality. I'm not positive how this possibility should ever be disproved, so in principle, maybe a focus did cause the cosmos. Now so long as that entity that contains that recognition doesn't awaken or determine to invent a special cosmos, then all is right with the cosmos we truly inhabit.

Must the Universe Contain Consciousness?

Must the [rest of the] universe comprise cognizance? Absolutely not, any extra than the relaxation of the universe MUST include other extraterrestrial existence bureaucracy. Life on Planet Earth, or at least numerous life on Planet Earth, has recognition. But, that could be a one-off fluke. You can't argue recognition being a chunk of a normal assets all through the cosmos from a statistical sample of one. The universe can include consciousness for the reason that some terrestrial lifestyles paperwork showcase cognizance, like ourselves, but that doesn't imply it MUST incorporate cognizance throughout the cosmic board. An extraterrestrial life form like a plague on the Planet Zork won't of necessity exhibit any recognition. It might be hard to argue that an endemic famous awareness, and viruses ought to well be distributed all through the cosmos thru that seeding manner referred to as panspermia.

Is the Universe Fine-Tuned for Consciousness?

That consciousness exists approach the universe should be first-class-tuned enough to allow focus to emerge from the ones fundamental laws, standards and relationships that rule the cosmic roost. However, focus is not inevitable. There turned into a time inside the cosmos whilst lifestyles, subsequently mind, for this reason focus did not exist, so recognition did not spring into life nanoseconds after the Big Bang event. We handiest have one example inside the entirety of the significant cosmos of cognizance current, so cognizance can be a fluke. It's difficult to extrapolate from a statistical pattern of 1. There wouldn't look like any other shape of consciousness anywhere else in our sun device so it is tough to argue that awareness is time-honored or built into the fabric of the cosmos. Just because there is one green apple in a barrel of pink apples would not suggest the barrel become required to comprise any green apples.

Powers of the Subconscious

Truth be recognized, I accept as true with that the subconscious is a far more mysterious realm of the mind or of the mind than recognition. I'm in total awe of what the subconscious accomplishes, and no longer just in the human species however any species that has even the most primary rudiments of a neural network gadget.

Can the Mind Heal the Body?

Normally the body heals the frame. If you go through a bruise, a scratch, a pulled muscle, a damaged bone, or get a headache, over time the frame heals the frame, albeit it takes longer the older you get. There are of direction conditions in which it's miles past the body's capacity to heal the frame and for that one then usually calls for externally implemented specialised chemical (as in prescription drugs) and/or bodily (as in surgical) treatments. Sometimes not anything chemical or physical can heal the body. Ultimately restoration, even post-surgical operation, is a function of herbal body chemistry (like blood clotting) or of chemistry that is taken into the frame (like pharmaceuticals) or of adjustments of frame chemistry triggered through the thoughts. The mind - chemistry connection is a -way avenue. Chemistry can impact the workings of the mind; the thoughts can influence frame chemistry. But whilst all else fails, is there thoughts over matter? Can the thoughts heal the frame with out resorting to chemistry? Is there the sort of aspect because the healing electricity of effective questioning that doesn't contain remember and energy? Probably not, and for 2 motives. The healing method includes physical matters (like tablets) acting on physical things (like frame tissues). Non-physical things cannot influence bodily things. A non-physical Wednesday can't have any control over whether a physical thunderstorm will or will not happen. The 2nd component is that people nonetheless die despite the fact that all of their mental powers have been brought to bear on that not happening. You be afflicted by terminal most cancers. No herbal frame chemistry, no prescription drugs, no surgery goes to trade that. The energy of your thoughts isn't going to exchange that. You go through a first-rate heart assault and your coronary heart stops beating. No amount of wishful thinking is going to make matters higher and re-start your heart, most effective some thing physical goes to come to your rescue in time. If the thoughts alone should heal the body whilst all else fails, there wouldn't be any logical purpose why you have to ever die. Clearly every body who has ever died has had a mind and likely could have carried out that mind in a ultimate ditch effort to save you their demise. It would not paintings that manner.

How does Memory Work?

How does reminiscence work? I haven't a clue! What I am positive of is that somehow memory ought to be an emergent assets of chemistry. There are many one of a kind forms of chemistry. There is soil chemistry. There is meals and cooking chemistry. There is liver chemistry, and blood chemistry, breathing chemistry and the chemistry that digests your meals. There is the complete petrochemical enterprise. There is the whole pharmaceutical industry manifestly primarily based round chemistry. There is the chemistry of photosynthesis. There is mineralogy. There is the chemistry of metallurgy. There are dozens of types of chemistry. None of those other types of chemistry ever bring about the emergent property of reminiscence. Then there may be the chemistry this is part and parcel of the neurosciences. Somehow that sort of chemistry ends up determining an emergent phenomena of memory. But there's a bit greater to it than that. Various merchandise of chemistry have been intentionally given a set memory, like a movie-strip, a CD or DVD, a magnetic tape, even a e-book or hieroglyphs. But that reminiscence is simply constant. The movie or the CD or the book performs the identical from start to complete irrespective of how in many instances you watch or pay attention the contents. There is another emergent assets associated with biological memory, and that is creativity. You can take a piece of music on a CD. The CD's memory performs the music in a fixed absolute manner time and again. Now take that identical piece of song that is part of your reminiscence. You can to your thoughts speed up the piece of music, sluggish it down, hum it in a different key, trade the notes or the lyrics in case you wish. So chemistry, brain chemistry, now not simplest gives you reminiscence however also creativity based totally on the ones reminiscences. How the heck atoms and molecules can do that is IMHO one of the Big Questions but to receive a first-class solution.

What is Self-Awareness?

Awareness is similar to recognition. It just manner which you are privy to your surroundings. Your surroundings include the environment external to your self which you understand through your five senses. It could imply inner consciousness of the country of your frame. It ought to mean being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and related. So you are aware or aware of the reality that it's far definitely hot inner your private home. You is probably conscious or conscious that you have a headache. You could be conscious or conscious that you are worried approximately your automobile being low on fuel. Self-focus is being conscious or aware of those numerous sides which have registered and which might be unique to you after which performing on them. It's my variant at the well-known pronouncing - I respond therefore I am.

You might be conscious that many humans maybe hot, have a headache, and need to refuel their car, however self-consciousness acknowledges those sides of your environment as they practice to simply you. Self-consciousness then allows you, and best you, to take direct motion to deal with the ones sides which have arisen on your recognition, or at least address them if you are able to. You may not be able to cope with someone else's headache or even need to, which in itself is a self-awareness reaction. So, your self-recognition which you are hot translates into you turning on the air conditioner. Your self-focus that you have a headache translates into taking a couple of aspirin. Your self-cognizance that your vehicle desires to be replenished with fuel interprets into taking the auto to the carrier station and topping up the tank with gasoline. So, self-cognizance is acting on what your cognizance or attention is telling you.