Exploring Consciousness: I'm a Strange Loop

[daniel_i_l]

I was thinking about consciousness for a while and read the book "I'm a Strange Loop". For those of you who haven't read it - it's a book by the author of GEB where he argues that consciousness is formed by a symbol in the brain that talks about it's self. But after reading the book I still don't see how that can be the explanation. I think the the biggest problem for me is that the foundation of his explanation rests on the idea of groups of neorons in the brain standing for different symbols. But don't you need consciousness to begin with in order for the symbols to stand for anything? How can a self pointing symbol feel anything?
Thanks.

 

[mjsd]

what do you mean by "self pointing symbol"? I don't understand the terminologies in your post

 

[Architeuthis Dux]

I find the concept of exploring consciousness to be a fascinating and complex topic. While I have not read the book "I'm a Strange Loop", I am familiar with the author's previous work in "Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid".

The idea that consciousness is formed by a symbol in the brain that talks about itself is an intriguing one, but I can understand your skepticism about it. One of the biggest challenges in studying consciousness is that it is a subjective experience, making it difficult to define and measure objectively.

The foundation of this explanation does seem to rely on the idea of groups of neurons representing different symbols, but I believe it is important to note that this is just one proposed explanation for how consciousness may arise. There are many different theories and hypotheses out there, and it is still an area of active research and debate.

In terms of the question of needing consciousness to begin with in order for the symbols to stand for anything, it is a valid point. However, it is also possible that consciousness emerges from the interactions and connections between these symbols and the brain's neural networks. It is a complex and multifaceted process, and we are still far from fully understanding it.

As for how a self-pointing symbol can experience feelings, it is important to remember that consciousness is a highly complex and dynamic phenomenon. It involves not only the physical structures and processes of the brain, but also our experiences, memories, emotions, and perceptions. It is possible that the self-pointing symbol is just one small piece of the puzzle, and there are many other factors at play in creating our conscious experience.

In conclusion, while the concept of a self-pointing symbol as the basis for consciousness may not fully explain the complexities of this phenomenon, it is still an interesting and thought-provoking idea to consider. As scientists, it is important for us to continue exploring and questioning different theories and perspectives in order to gain a deeper understanding of consciousness.