Could consciousness all come down to the way things vibrate?

Could consciousness all come down to the way things vibrate?

by Tam Hunt

Our resonance theory builds upon the work of Fries and many others, with a broader approach that can help to explain not only human and mammalian consciousness, but also consciousness more broadly.

Based on the observed behavior of the entities that surround us, from electrons to atoms to molecules, to bacteria to mice, bats, rats, and on, we suggest that all things may be viewed as at least a little conscious. This sounds strange at first blush, but “panpsychism” – the view that all matter has some associated consciousness – is an increasingly accepted position with respect to the nature of consciousness.

The panpsychist argues that consciousness did not emerge at some point during evolution. Rather, it’s always associated with matter and vice versa – they’re two sides of the same coin. But the large majority of the mind associated with the various types of matter in our universe is extremely rudimentary. An electron or an atom, for example, enjoys just a tiny amount of consciousness. But as matter becomes more interconnected and rich, so does the mind, and vice versa, according to this way of thinking.

I think that Bernado Kastrup has pretty much demolished panpsychism's arguments that consciousness is somehow just another form of matter.

Seems interesting at first, until you bring NDEs and reincarnation into the picture, nevermind spiritual experiences of telepathically sensing disemboded consciousnesses.

I think that Bernado Kastrup has pretty much demolished panpsychism's arguments that consciousness is somehow just another form of matter.

Seems interesting at first, until you bring NDEs and reincarnation into the picture, nevermind spiritual experiences of telepathically sensing disemboded consciousnesses.

Could you cite where you see Kastrup demolishing Panpsychism?

I don't think "matter" - especially in the Panpsychic sense - is necessarily set against the things you mention on the second line - For example varied spiritual/mystic traditions have posited matter is always alive (Hylozoism) or that there are different kinds of matter with varied properties (Hylic Pluralism) from which subtle bodies and Heavens/Hells are made from.

Did anyone else notice how Tam Hunt manages to distort David Chalmer's contribution right at the start of this piece:

Chalmers thought the mind-body problem should be called “hard” in comparison to what, with tongue in cheek, he called the “easy” problems of neuroscience: How do neurons and the brain work at the physical level? Of course they’re not actually easy at all. But his point was that they’re relatively easy compared to the truly difficult problem of explaining how consciousness relates to matter.

Did anyone else notice how Tam Hunt manages to distort David Chalmer's contribution right at the start of this piece:

What's wrong with what Hunt writes? 

The hard problem of consciousness (Chalmers 1995) is the problem of explaining the relationship between physical phenomena, such as brain processes, and experience (i.e., phenomenal consciousness, or mental states/events with phenomenal qualities or qualia). Why are physical processes ever accompanied by experience? And why does a given physical process generate the specific experience it does—why an experience of red rather than green, for example? http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Hard...sciousness

Based on the observed behavior of the entities that surround us, from electrons to atoms to molecules, to bacteria to mice, bats, rats, and on, we suggest that all things may be viewed as at least a little conscious.

People say things like that, but I am not sure if they mean anything concrete by this idea. How exactly is an electron conscious, and anyway all electrons are supposed to be identical!

Steve001,

You will also find this quote in that article:

Chalmers thought the mind-body problem should be called “hard” in comparison to what, with tongue in cheek, he called the “easy” problems of neuroscience: How do neurons and the brain work at the physical level? Of course they’re not actually easy at all. But his point was that they’re relatively easy compared to the truly difficult problem of explaining how consciousness relates to matter.

You will also find this quote in that article:

 

You don't need to double quote. Why do you disagree with Hunt's characterization?

You don't need to double quote. Why do you disagree with Hunt's characterization?

Originally I only saw the quote I referred to, which appears much earlier in the piece, and it is definitely a weaker form of Chalmer's observation that the Hard Problem is how physical matter can actually feel qualia.

I mean heck, a philosopher is lucky to come up with one nugget like that in his career, and when one does, it should not be brushed aside! I don't see how vibrations - whether in phase or out of phase, linear or non-linear, coupled or otherwise - can provide an explanation for why the particular piece of matter called a human can experience stuff. I know for sure a computer doesn't. 

In a way, I think the concept of the Hard Problem is sacred. It is the absolute distillation of the biggest problem with materialism.

Originally I only saw the quote I referred to, which appears much earlier in the piece, and it is definitely a weaker form of Chalmer's observation that the Hard Problem is how physical matter can actually feel qualia.

I mean heck, a philosopher is lucky to come up with one nugget like that in his career, and when one does, it should not be brushed aside! I don't see how vibrations - whether in phase or out of phase, linear or non-linear, coupled or otherwise - can provide an explanation for why the particular piece of matter called a human can experience stuff. I know for sure a computer doesn't. 

In a way, I think the concept of the Hard Problem is sacred. It is the absolute distillation of the biggest problem with materialism.

The problem with philosophers is they spend too much time thinking. Here's a hard problem, one you might be able to provide an answer for. Why some people find it difficult to acknowledge the way matter is arranged and it's functioning within brains makes it not possible brains can do what they do?