Abstract
This article acknowledges the challenges in our
understanding of consciousness but pushes the boundary further in reaching for
we do not yet understand. In so doing,
the concepts outline here intend to impart some understanding of the challenges
we face as conscious humans while still attempting to inspire further research,
study and acceptance of ourselves as human beings that are an integral part of
humanity.
Key Words: Consciousness, Exploration, Frontiers, Humanity, Life
Introduction
In certain circles we evaluate consciousness and its origins
vis a vis the hard and easy
problems. In Susan Blackmore’s book, Consciousness an Introduction (Oxford
University Press, 2004. NY), she
outlines the hard problem as:
The hard problem is to explain how
physical processes in the brain give rise to the subjective experience. The term was coined in 1994 by David
Chalmers, who distinguished it from the “easy problems” of consciousness. These include the ability to discriminate,
categorize and react to stimuli; the integration of information by cognitive
systems; the reportability of mental states; the focus of attention; deliberate
control of behavior; and the difference between wakefulness and sleep. By contrast the hard problem concerns
experience itself, that is, subjectivity or “what it is like to be…”(19)
The arguments made by many a learned scholar make sense
within their frameworks but I still cannot help but feel this nagging feeling
within that we are all overlooking something important; perhaps something
simple. I cannot tell you precisely what
that is until I can tease apart this nagging urge a bit more.
What we do know about consciousness is that in some
respects, it is a bit of a mystery and potentially relegated at least in part
to the land of metaphysics. We cannot
definitively pin point the origins of consciousness with certainty. Consciousness is not limited to the brain but
perhaps extends into the Mind and even beyond which encompasses the brain and
yet includes a much broader concept such as the whole of the Universe. Perhaps like the big bang or little blink, it
just began and there it was in existence supported by all the dark matter and
light of the universe. I cannot tell you
which.
What I can tell you is that I am conscious within the
limited framework of a physical body that is awake and aware and that I am also
part of a larger existence of consciousness of which we are all a part. Maybe consciousness is no problem at all and
our digging deeper into a piece of reality just to label it is a mistake. We take bits and pieces of existence all the
time. We sort of decide to take this
chunk of reality as limited as it may be, study it, test it, experiment with it
and decide, “This is it, this is X.”
What if we do not have the capacity to take a big enough chunk of our
reality to accurately measure it at all?
In terms of life in general, our consciousness is defined
very closely to its component psychological parts as Freud (1856-1939) determined,
Consciousness, Latent Consciousness and the Sub-conscious. Everything we do and experience becomes some
part of our consciousness in life. So be
it. It is what it is. This is all well
in good if you are content to get up every day and avoid philosophy. Sadly or fortunately, as a philosopher, I
don’t have that blessing. I’ve an
inquiring Mind which seeks to understand consciousness in it’s various states
for my own personal reasons having experienced altered states of consciousness
that have nothing to do with drugs!
Conclusion
I think the conclusion that I come to is that I can be
satisfied with all of the studies and ideas on consciousness but I cannot be
satisfied with stopping there. We have
so many great minds reading, researching and who are so very willing to
continue the exploration into new frontiers on consciousness so that we might
some day come up with something infinitely more useful for humanity concerning
something very close to the home of every individual on the planet, our
consciousness. Being part of the much
larger Consciousness, of which we are all part, is our right and privilege here
in this frame and so we live our lives in various stages of consciousness that
shifts, changes and expands much like the universe. Be that as it may, I love life and I don’t
think I could ever stop exploring our conscious existence in a very big
way. In a way, I hope you grasp that
same pioneering spirit with whatever it is that calls to you within your own
lives and fearless continue your inquiry until you are satisfied with the
answers.
(photo: NASA)
Rev. J.L. Harter, PhD, Founding Editor of the Journal of Metaphysics and Connected Consciousness. See Bio section for additional information.
