Does matter come from consciousness or does consciousness come from matter?

[Eukaryote]

This is some heavy philsopohy right here: Does matter shape the consciousness that perceives it or does consciousness shape the matter it perceives?

 

[LucyDuke]

Whatever fifty says.

 

[Brighteye]

Do you really mean 'perceives'?

 

[Elrohir]

How are you defining consciousness and matter?

I mean, is consciousness just the ability to make some sort of decision? (Like a computer does, for instance?) Or is it actual sapience, with a capacity for wisdom and moral choices, among other things? Is this matter you're talking about solely physical stuff - atoms, molecules, etc? Or does this include nonmaterial existence, as well? (It doesn't sound like it, but having a discussion on the nature of consciousness without even the possibility of something non-physical seems kind of lame to me.)

 

[Eukaryote]

How are you defining consciousness and matter?

I mean, is consciousness just the ability to make some sort of decision? (Like a computer does, for instance?) Or is it actual sapience, with a capacity for wisdom and moral choices, among other things? Is this matter you're talking about solely physical stuff - atoms, molecules, etc? Or does this include nonmaterial existence, as well? (It doesn't sound like it, but having a discussion on the nature of consciousness without even the possibility of something non-physical seems kind of lame to me.)

I suppose I define consciousness as the ability to think, feel, and perhaps also have ideas, make decisions and have opinions. Matter would be the phyisical things.

 

[Ayatollah So]

Well, I'd rather say that consciousness is an inherent property of certain arrangements of matter (certain kinds of organisms). More than that, every electron (whether it's currently part of a conscious being or not) has the property that, when combined with other electrons in certain complex arrangements, it plays a part in consciousness. Does that count as "consciousness coming from matter"?

As for the matter in the environment around the organism - the stuff it perceives - obviously that shapes consciousness, otherwise consciousness would lack its (very large) survival value.

 

[dwaxe]

There is no way of knowing which electron is where at a given moment. Only probabilities of where an electron might be.

I truly believe that there is no way to know the answer to the debate.

 

[GinandTonic]

How are you defining consciousness and matter?

I mean, is consciousness just the ability to make some sort of decision? (Like a computer does, for instance?) Or is it actual sapience, with a capacity for wisdom and moral choices, among other things? Is this matter you're talking about solely physical stuff - atoms, molecules, etc? Or does this include nonmaterial existence, as well? (It doesn't sound like it, but having a discussion on the nature of consciousness without even the possibility of something non-physical seems kind of lame to me.)

Such a distinction presumes the existance of the immaterial. For the poll to have any meaning it must not do so, since many people dont believe in a dualist universe. Indeed that is all but the question.

 

[Ecofarm]

How often are conversions one-way, forever?

"Once you go black" jokes aside