tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014397.post47224576445591371..comments2024-01-21T00:06:06.105-08:00Comments on the red pill <.>: Taking the Obvious not for GrantedRay Lightninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882462553270746059noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014397.post-4150668223920165632011-02-06T03:14:00.443-08:002011-02-06T03:14:00.443-08:00Let's just talk about awareness instead of sel...Let's just talk about awareness instead of self-awareness, because defining self is a very tricky issue.<br /><br /> We can understand awareness by the amount of information that is processed to arrive at a decision. For the example of the plant you have given, the information concerns water and nutrients, and how to convert it into proteins. This information is accumulated by evolution and passed from generation to generation. <br /><br />Now consider an animal that has to decide on how to stalk its prey. This is complex decision that requires processing information dynamically, nothing of which has been transmitted from parents. Thus, the necessity of a brain - to process information of a size exponentially larger than the previous step. <br /><br />Now we humans, even though can be quite stupid in many ways, are capable of abstract thought that is beyond the sensory-motor loops of animal brains. The information we process is at a much higher level. This is what I mean by awareness, of about how much information gets into the system to take decisions. This awareness is undoubtedly increasing in time for the universe. I once heard somebody saying this is just a consequence of the 2nd law of thermodynamics, but I still can't figure out why that should be. <br /><br />But I really liked the way you framed the relationship : "existence itself might have no meaning without necessarily evolving towards greater self-awareness", That's a thought to ponder on. Thanks for your comment :)Ray Lightninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08882462553270746059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014397.post-48727090953923557692011-02-05T07:30:16.975-08:002011-02-05T07:30:16.975-08:00So here's my theory.. take it as you will:
Ans...So here's my theory.. take it as you will:<br />Answers to #1 & 4 are similar; as an essential aspect of existence is necessarily evolving toward greater self-awareness, if this is not existence itself.<br />Answers to #2 & 3 are very little and nothing.<br />What if the first premise is backward, in that self-awareness is rather a limited awareness, that its evolution is toward a greater separation from awareness of existence. Somewhat vague... Are organizations considered aware? Our bodies are just organizations of cells. Is awareness forethought? If so, a plant has more forethought than me for sure, since it has to factor in all the manners in which to distribute its seed, without moving.<br />Just my random thoughts.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03433648315023051372noreply@blogger.com