- #1
Meatbot
- 147
- 1
What would it be like to be "more" or "less" conscious?
I think consciusness is on a continuum and that brings up some questions. I think everyone would agree that in some way lower lifeforms, while conscious, are "less" conscious than we are. A dog is less conscious than you. A flea is less conscious than a dog. A microbe is less conscious than a flea. At each level they have less introspection, less analysis, a smaller range of thoughts, less "smartitude".
In what others ways might they be less conscious? What would it feel like if you were less conscious?
More interestingly to me, what would it feel like if you were more conscious? What does that mean? Perhaps more access to the functions of your brain that are normally unconscious? Maybe like the ability to control your own heartbeat, or conscious access to the processes occurring while asleep.
Are autistic savants more conscious since they seem to have access to things that perhaps are hidden from the rest of us?
I think consciusness is on a continuum and that brings up some questions. I think everyone would agree that in some way lower lifeforms, while conscious, are "less" conscious than we are. A dog is less conscious than you. A flea is less conscious than a dog. A microbe is less conscious than a flea. At each level they have less introspection, less analysis, a smaller range of thoughts, less "smartitude".
In what others ways might they be less conscious? What would it feel like if you were less conscious?
More interestingly to me, what would it feel like if you were more conscious? What does that mean? Perhaps more access to the functions of your brain that are normally unconscious? Maybe like the ability to control your own heartbeat, or conscious access to the processes occurring while asleep.
Are autistic savants more conscious since they seem to have access to things that perhaps are hidden from the rest of us?
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