consciousness
Created | Updated Oct 20, 2010
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<b>Consciousness</b> is not understood very well, mainly because<BR/>
it is a very complex phenomenon. However, inefficient<BR/>
definitions lead to confusion as well. A broad but robust<BR/>
definition is: The ability to distinguish at least two<BR/>
levels of a variable and giving a subsequent response. In<BR/>
animals consciousness is far more complex then described<BR/>
here before. This can still be understood when considering <BR/>
all the operating subsystems in the nervous systems as mutual<BR/>
interacting systems. A system may for example be surpressed <BR/>
by another but may itself activate a third system. Etholgy<BR/>
(study of causality and function of behaviour) defines these<BR/>
systems at a very high level. They distinguish for example<BR/>
the sexual, learning and flight systems. These are again<BR/>
divided into subsystems. It should be noted that such <BR/>
division lacks accuracy. Eventually, functional systems are<BR/>
to be defined at a level of neural connections. Obviously<BR/>
this brings about loss of comprehension, because of complexity.<BR/>
Defining systems more roughly, thus, is not superfluous.<BR/>
What we consider as consciousness is in fact a sophisticated,<BR/>
dominating high order conscious system of the brain, capable <BR/>
of processing and evaluating an incredible amount of information. <BR/>
We are than to realize that animal consciousness (which I would <BR/>
like to reffer to as meta-consiousness) is not physically<BR/>
concentrated, but dispersed in many parts of the nervous system.<BR/>
<BR/><BR/>
<b>Consciousness</b> often is used as a term for self-consciousness.<BR/>
That is not justified. Self-consciousness is the capability<BR/>
of self-comprehension and the awareness that one is able to<BR/>
manipulate the environment. This indeed asks for a quite <BR/>
complex neural network. Still it is premature to say that<BR/>
animals, other than humans, aren't self-conscious. Both<BR/>
consciousness and self-consciousness occure at many levels.<BR/><BR/>
</font>
<b>Consciousness</b> is not understood very well, mainly because<BR/>
it is a very complex phenomenon. However, inefficient<BR/>
definitions lead to confusion as well. A broad but robust<BR/>
definition is: The ability to distinguish at least two<BR/>
levels of a variable and giving a subsequent response. In<BR/>
animals consciousness is far more complex then described<BR/>
here before. This can still be understood when considering <BR/>
all the operating subsystems in the nervous systems as mutual<BR/>
interacting systems. A system may for example be surpressed <BR/>
by another but may itself activate a third system. Etholgy<BR/>
(study of causality and function of behaviour) defines these<BR/>
systems at a very high level. They distinguish for example<BR/>
the sexual, learning and flight systems. These are again<BR/>
divided into subsystems. It should be noted that such <BR/>
division lacks accuracy. Eventually, functional systems are<BR/>
to be defined at a level of neural connections. Obviously<BR/>
this brings about loss of comprehension, because of complexity.<BR/>
Defining systems more roughly, thus, is not superfluous.<BR/>
What we consider as consciousness is in fact a sophisticated,<BR/>
dominating high order conscious system of the brain, capable <BR/>
of processing and evaluating an incredible amount of information. <BR/>
We are than to realize that animal consciousness (which I would <BR/>
like to reffer to as meta-consiousness) is not physically<BR/>
concentrated, but dispersed in many parts of the nervous system.<BR/>
<BR/><BR/>
<b>Consciousness</b> often is used as a term for self-consciousness.<BR/>
That is not justified. Self-consciousness is the capability<BR/>
of self-comprehension and the awareness that one is able to<BR/>
manipulate the environment. This indeed asks for a quite <BR/>
complex neural network. Still it is premature to say that<BR/>
animals, other than humans, aren't self-conscious. Both<BR/>
consciousness and self-consciousness occure at many levels.<BR/><BR/>
</font>
