Question by uncertain: Do you think consciousness is eternal – even though it dies in individuals?
In a completely naturalistic universe, can you explain a way that consciousness could be eternal?
Even if you disagree with it, what is the name of such a belief? (it does not involve supernatural beings at all)
What are the names of famous people who subscribe to such a belief?
Do you think it is a plausible possibility?
Best answer:
Answer by Kenny W
Hello,
There is no completely naturalistic universe, just the universe.
I do not study the beliefs of famous people, so I cannot help you with that.
I believe our consciousness will proceed beyond our mortal lives, and be examined for correction in another plane of reality,(also part of the universe, just an unwitnessed part but we, the living), and although we may or may not return to a physical existence to learn more lessons, we will not forget the parts of us that are now living.
Give your answer to this question below!
I’m not 100% sure what you’re talking about, but I do have a few things to say that might incite some answers.
How do humans have consciousness? Did we gain consciousness when we were a baby? Did we gain consciousness when we were born? What about slightly before our birth? Maybe minutes before we were born we were conscious? Every human grows from a microscopic zygote. Most people would probably say that that zygote wasn’t conscious. Most people would probably say that after cleavage begins and we form into a ball of cells we still aren’t conscious. We aren’t recognizable at all. We have no brain or organs of any kind yet. How could we be conscious? So then, where do you draw the line? At what point do humans become conscious? Given what I have said I would say that we don’t suddenly become conscious, but rather the more complex we become as we grow the more conscious we become. There isn’t a time when we are suddenly conscious; it’s gradual. This also makes sense if you think of the evolution of humans from inorganic molecules on Earth 4.5 billion years ago. We, like all other life on Earth, have evolved from microscopic bundles of a few molecules. Were those few molecules, 4.5 billion years ago, conscious? I would say that to an extent, yes. I would say that a human zygote is conscious to an extent as well. In fact, I would say that to an extent, all matter, organic and inorganic, is conscious. Wikipedia says that the term consciousness is often used to describe “being awake and aware—responsive to the environment.” I would say that with this definition of consciousness, everything is indeed consciousness. Everything does what it does because of its own properties and the effects of its surrounding environment. Another definition of consciousness provided by Wikipedia is when “the term is restricted to the specific way in which humans are mentally aware in such a way that they distinguish clearly between themselves (the thing being aware) and all other things and events.” By this definition I would have to disagree with your initial question. When a human dies, his brain crushed, he is no longer conscious or “mentally aware” for his brain no longer functions. However, based on the first definition of consciousness, “being awake and aware—responsive to the environment,” I would agree with your initial question. Even when an individual dies and his brain stops functioning, consciousness remains eternal. The matter and energy that made up the individual still acts according to its properties and the effects of the surrounding environment. Consciousness is eternal.
I’m not aware of any common term that holds such a belief; I don’t think there is one. Thus, it would be difficult to find a famous person who would subscribe to the belief of consciousness being eternal because there is no term for it. You’d have to ask them or read up in detail about their thoughts and philosophical views in order to determine what their views are on consciousness.
Yes, it is a very plausible possibility. If consciousness is defined as “being awake and aware—responsive to the environment,” then I would say that yes, consciousness is eternal, even after you die. Good question, it made me think.
It belongs to the soul, not the egotistical body it directs and leaves here on earth
Well dude, think of it this way: consciousness would imply the ability to receive sensory input from the environment at the least. That would mean possessing some sort of physical way to receive and process that input (That would mean it would have a physical body).That in turn would imply that the “consciousness” would have to have complex mechanisms. All complex mechanisms cannot last forever (stars are utterly simple). They break down.
No.