Anil Seth talk on consciousness.

At the very beginning he talks about being under anaesthetic, the very topic that got me confused for a non-believer! How rude. 

I’m still waiting for a better explanation as to why both me and this guy feel that being under and being totally unconscious while having an op is so different from any other. As I’ve said before, time seems to be missing when I wake up. This is different from any other experience I’ve had.

Having now watched all the video, I am somewhat unimpressed. I thought it was all about the ‘easy’ problem, but maybe I’m just ignorant?

At the very beginning he talks about being under anaesthetic, the very topic that got me confused for a non-believer! How rude. 

This is still the biggest issue I have regarding all other theories of consciousness. From a materialist viewpoint it makes perfect sense that being under an anaesthetic "feels" like it feels. It is a total void. As far as I know, after reading some simple articles, science has made some advances regarding the knowledge of the effect of anaesthetics on the brain. It seems that it prevents neurons from processing/sharing information, hence total "blackness". I guess that's how it "feels" to be dead...

This is still the biggest issue I have regarding all other theories of consciousness. From a materialist viewpoint it makes perfect sense that being under an anaesthetic "feels" like it feels. It is a total void. As far as I know, after reading some simple articles, science has made some advances regarding the knowledge of the  effect of anaesthetics on the brain. It seems that it prevents neurons from processing/sharing information, hence total "blackness". I guess that's how it "feels" to be dead...

Yes, that’s one possibility.

Another is that the ‘intelligence’ that is somehow seen in nature and maths and physical laws that the mainstream materialist mathematicians and physicists like Sean Carroll say ‘we just have to accept’, realises that anaesthetics are a part of our reality and design it so we only trigger Nde type events when certain other critical bodily functions stop happening.

Such design elements may be deliberately confusing as are many other of the things we like to look at, the ‘intelligence’ doesn’t make it easy for us.

Yes, that’s one possibility.

Another is that the ‘intelligence’ that is somehow seen in nature and maths and physical laws that the mainstream materialist mathematicians and physicists like Sean Carroll say ‘we just have to accept’, realises that anaesthetics are a part of our reality and design it so we only trigger Nde type events when certain other critical bodily functions stop happening.

Such design elements may be deliberately confusing as are many other of the things we like to look at, the ‘intelligence’ doesn’t make it easy for us.

There are surely a lot of different theories, but I think the materialistic explanation, in this regard, is the most logical: Brains stops communicating, no consciousness, no experience. It just fits too perfect, also when one considers things like brain injury changing a persons character etc. But well, the longer I think about life and metaphysics the less everything makes sense

There are surely a lot of different theories, but I think the materialistic explanation, in this regard, is the most logical: Brains stops communicating, no consciousness, no experience. It just fits too perfect, also when one considers things like brain injury changing a persons character etc. But well, the longer I think about life and metaphysics the less everything makes sense

Not for me, there is just too much evidence to the contrary. But I accept that one man’s evidence is another’s bullsheeat! 

I can't help but see the physical body is simply the vehicle in which we travel. Consider it as a motor-car, with the occupant inside able to communicate by use of lights or horn. Or as a space-suit where communication is done by radio transmission. These are just simple analogies. What I'm trying to get at is that we observe the outer shell, and its capabilities. We don't see the person inside except indirectly - or sometimes maybe not at all.  

One of the most difficult parts in all of this, is to understand the phenomenon of memory. The physical plays a role in the formation of some memories. But is it only the physical? There is enough evidence from for example past-life research, that not all memories reside in the physical, since memories may be accessed relating to a physical body which has long since turned to dust.

Typoz, have you any thoughts on what might trip the ‘he’s dead, this life on Earth is over’ sensor?

Typoz, have you any thoughts on what might trip the ‘he’s dead, this life on Earth is over’ sensor?

I'm not sure if I understand your meaning (but I hope I do). In some cases the answer seems obvious - when the body sustains sufficient damage from one cause or another. But in more in-between cases, it seems to be controlled from the consciousness (mind) rather than from the body. Examples perhaps illustrated in NDE accounts where in a few cases the person seems to have a choice, proceed in that journey to the 'beyond', or return to continue this life, for example a parent returning to care for offspring.  There are examples where there does not seem to be a choice. I don't know, but suggest this may be to fulfil some previous agreement. (I'm a big advocate of free will, and where it appears to be overridden, I feel there is some additional explanation).

I'm not sure if I understand your meaning (but I hope I do). In some cases the answer seems obvious - when the body sustains sufficient damage from one cause or another. But in more in-between cases, it seems to be controlled from the consciousness (mind) rather than from the body. Examples perhaps illustrated in NDE accounts where in a few cases the person seems to have a choice, proceed in that journey to the 'beyond', or return to continue this life, for example a parent returning to care for offspring.  There are examples where there does not seem to be a choice. I don't know, but suggest this may be to fulfil some previous agreement. (I'm a big advocate of free will, and where it appears to be overridden, I feel there is some additional explanation).

It’s interesting how even people with injuries that would probably have been seen as non-survivable are sometimes able to make amazing recoveries after NDEs. 

I would guess such a definition (death) might come from both mind and body. When I’m under general anaesthetic my physical side seems to be ok, while my mind is definitely gone. When I’m being kept alive by machines it’s the other way around. I’m reminded of the Men in Black movies, when the human body is totally knackered yet it is still inhabited by an alien consciousness.