Is consciousness is generated entirely from the brain, or do you think there is an essence of our awareness that exists independently from it?

[successwithjustin]

There are two schools of thought. The materialistic view and the metaphysical view. You either think consciousness is completely generated by the physical form of the brain. Or, you believe an aspect of our awareness or consciousness exists in the eternal mind, and that the brain receives this awareness in order to be able to interact and live in this physical world.

what do you think?

generated completely from the brain

consciousness exists separately from the brain

[jshm2]

There are many schools of thought. From the quantum to the religious.

But it is obvious the consciousness is not "generated". The "base functions" are always active in everyone regardless of if they are in a coma, walking around, sleeping, working. Etc.

The problem lays in curent understandings of "thought" and where it actually comes from. It is hoped Neuroscience may hold the key.

[MountAverage]

The mind-body-problem seems unsolvable, so to me it feels most reasonable to have an agnostic attitude towards it. There's good arguments for and against materialism/reductionism as well as for and against dualism. Too bad your poll doesn't leave room for that.

[goaded]

Other parts of your body almost have "minds" of their own, not needing concious thought. Muscle memory, the effect of food or its lack on your mood, blind people avoiding obstacles in their way, etc.

But it's all from your body and the complexity within, most of which is in your brain, so: A.

Check out Other Minds, by Peter Godfrey-Smith. It's amazing.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/15/other-minds-peter-godfrey-smith-review-octopus-philip-hoare

[HighlyVolatile]

I err on towards the former side. We can completely alter our consciousness, after all, through methods confined to the physical world. Damage to the prefrontal cortex can turn a mild-mannered and decent person into a violent and impulsive criminal, for example. Mild-altering substances can completely change the way someone experiences consciousness as well as their cognitive patterns.

[HighlyVolatile]

I'm also more of a pragmatist than an analyst. I don't really see what advances we can make by thinking of consciousness as existing beyond physical/material constraints. Yet my analyst side also wants some evidence we can verify through testing for claims that our consciousness isn't strictly constrained by the material laws of the universe. That's a rather bold claim.

[HighlyVolatile]

* Mind-altering
If there is something to consciousness beyond the physical (something I have difficulty with accepting absent something we can test), then I suspect it's more in the passenger's seat than the driver's seat. A malicious neurosurgeon can likely turn a decent person into a savage by just damaging areas like the PFC and amygdala which we know to regulate certain emotions. We can't control our consciousness and behavior that much at least. It's very susceptible to physical conditions.

[Guy13]

Both Consciousness and Conscious are Intelligently Designed apparatus that helps in our determination of what is and is not Good.
—Within our intelligently designed Morality our Consciousness and Conscious are aware and guide our Judgment of Right and Wrong.
—When Wrong or Right and made aware of our Status, therein, our Conscious reacts to our standing. The Process continues as my Being expresses himself in Doing…

[strateguy632]

each tiny part of brain can be lost so not physical.

[Anonymous]

This is something that not even quantum physicists can answer. The phenomenon of consciousness can't be explained yet.

[AndrésC64]

There's no reason to think that consciousness could exist without a brain.

[OfDeath]

Its probably a combo of the brain and the rest of the nervous system.

[Anonymous]

we have a soul you retards lol

GOD CHRIST created this place
the world is metaphysical

and i mean the material stuff is metaphysical

[In_Trance]

Philosophically speaking, there is no such thing as absolution

[lrina]

i believe it's all from the brain.

[Anonymous]

Generated from the brain

[Imsmurter1]

No opinion.