Where is our consciousness located? What it is? How does it work and interact with our body? These questions are far from new. They asked even such ancient scholars as Hippocrates. And even in those days, he came to the conclusion that all mental processes originate directly in the brain. It is this most complex human organ that is the place where our consciousness is placed, which makes us fully live, function, analyze and carry out a whole series of actions that we do not even think about.
Origin of the concept
To begin with, we decided to describe in detail what consciousness is. When such a term was born, what is the meaning of this or that researchers, as ordinary people identify it? The concept of consciousness, as already noted above, appeared in ancient times. Philosophers who, from nowhere, scooped up their phenomenal knowledge, clearly realized that each person perceives this world in his own way. They distinguished between the objective picture of the environment, which, as it were, was visible only to the Gods, and the subjective. The second had as many interpretations as there were people on the planet. On the basis of this, in their teachings and treatises such concepts as existence, reality, perception, and many others arise.
Refutation of science
In turn, Plato promoted a completely different interpretation of this phenomenon. The concept of consciousness in his writings is based entirely on spiritual canons. He believed that man was created in the image and likeness of God, and his consciousness, which is necessary only for worship, is located in the soul. It is, of course, separated from the body. His Christian follower - Thomas Aquinas - based on these works made his conclusions about where our consciousness is located. He also claimed that it is separate from the flesh and is one with the soul. The funny thing is that this theory was picked up by Descartes. However, he introduced some specifics, which later became known as dualism. The bottom line was that a person consists of two parts - the soul and body. They are interconnected, and the first receives signals from the second, thereby regulating needs and desires.
Modern philosophers and their judgments
Our contemporaries are convinced that the place where our consciousness is placed is the material brain. It is this body that regulates the work of everyone else, thoughts, impulses, needs arise in it that generate both vital actions (nutrition, sex), and more “deeper” from the point of view of philosophy (reading, drawing, traveling, etc.). ) But here everyone stumbles upon the main pitfall: to study consciousness is an unsolvable task. If this substance is tightly connected to the brain, then until the latter has been studied, we will not move off the ground.
Deeper approach to the problem
Some researchers, such as D. Searle and T. Nagel, miss all extremes and reveal a completely different picture to us. The concept of consciousness is presented to them as a whole set of mental functions that are based on biological ones. Thus, it turns out that this substance is something much more than a single brain function. Consciousness covers the human body completely, including all its sensory channels, all the capabilities of organs, muscles and the brain. In this regard, Nagel and Searle divide it into two components - unity and subjectivity.
Unity
This category includes such properties of consciousness as a comparison of facts and the creation of an overall picture. For example, we find ourselves in a new place where a beautiful yacht attracts our attention. A man admires a ship, losing sight of all the other details that surround him. At the same time, he does not look at the yacht, which is in the void or in the studio, where all the walls, floor and ceiling are painted in the same color. He sees her against the background of the sea, nailed to the pier, trees, sand and so on are visible around. And he is not surprised at all this, since these conditions are characteristic of a yacht. But if he really contemplated it in the studio, his consciousness would perceive it as something strange. Or vice versa, if there were a truck in the place of the yacht half sunk in the water, this would cause a completely different reaction, but not admiration.
Subjectivity
Much more complex is the subjective problem of consciousness. Its essence lies in the fact that each of us, and not only humans, but also animals, perceives everything in our own way. The fact that all people (or all dogs) see colors and sounds the same way is established by physicists. Radiation or sound has its own wave, which acts equally on our neurons. But here is the meaning that we put in this or that shade, in one or another note sounded on the piano, fundamentally different. Based on this experience of another person, we can only use it indirectly, based on his stories, which again we perceive through the prism of our own impressions. You can talk on this topic for days, because in brief we say that the subjective side of consciousness is still a mystery to researchers.
A bit about the essence
What does a person or any other living creature receive due to the fact that it is endowed with consciousness? Why is this component a necessary part of us, without which there cannot be a full-fledged being? Mainly the essence of consciousness is that thanks to it we become a person. It consists not only of a set of biological processes that are controlled by brain neurons and spill over to us in the form of desires and physical needs. Throughout life, it is constantly changing, filling with memory, experience, new experiences, knowledge. Consciousness shapes our imagination, as well as our worldview. Thanks to him, we can become an interesting person, a scientist, we can present ourselves in a favorable light. Consciousness makes it possible not only to evaluate the surrounding picture, but also to accept yourself. Thanks to him, we feel like who we are.
"Range of services"
Now we will examine in more detail the basic properties of consciousness.
- The first of these is activity - any person realizes that he lives in this world and must act.
- Selectivity - we do not perceive the whole world or the Universe as a whole. Each of us is constantly puzzled by a specific problem.
- Generalization - analyzing in our brain certain events, actions, objects, we focus on the main thing, while in this whole picture secondary moments are missed or exaggerated.
- Integrity is what makes it possible to sensibly perceive objects that are in their places, and the surroundings surrounding them.
- Constancy - is caused by memory and experience (do not step on a rake, go around one or another of the tenth road, etc.).
- Dynamism - consciousness is an unstable substance. It undergoes metamorphosis literally every day.
- Distortion is the most interesting quality. Each of us subjectively perceives the world. Memory can deceive vision and hearing. And all just because in our minds there are certain constants that correct the perception of reality.
The mirror of our soul
In philosophical and religious treatises it is customary to single out numerous levels of consciousness. According to the sages, one can reach the depths of one's essence through meditation. We will not delve into Buddhist practices, but simply consider the two sides of the coin - healthy consciousness and the subconscious. The first level is extremely important for the full existence of the individual in his environment. On this so-called conscious plane, perception, analysis, information processing takes place, and as a result, further construction of an individual picture of the world takes place. No less important is the subconscious. It is most often activated during sleep, but often works in the waking state of a person. Unlike consciousness, it does not have such a quality as analysis, therefore it can give us chaotic pictures that need to be decoded. With some mental deviations, a person bases his world precisely on the subconscious. This is the reason for its inadequacy.
Buddhist canons
To find out what the worlds of consciousness are, you need to turn a little to Buddhism, which we will do now.
- The world of hell is not life after death, but the existence of man in real time. Extremely crushed state, bodily and mental anguish, from which you want to die.
- The world of hunger is a state of consciousness when a person always wants something, and his greed has no limits.
- The world of cattle - to live, following instincts, no more.
- The world of the Asura demon is the life of aggressive and arrogant people, prone to selfishness, violence, mockery of the weaker and contempt.
- The human world is an average position that balances between good and bad realities. Here we live, enjoying the process, work and raise children.
- Heaven is a state of consciousness when a person is constantly overflowing with joy. He enjoys every minute, seizes the moment and is always positive.
- The world of those who listen to the voice - here you can see the levels of consciousness that require improvement. People in this position always read books, go deeper into some area of activity, learn, and improve themselves.
- The world of self-reaching enlightenment is simple. It is represented by people who develop themselves, without the help of mentors.
- Bodhisattva world - a person intentionally sacrifices himself for the good of others.
- The world of buddhas is devoid of desires, needs and greed. Everyone who belongs to him knows no suffering, he is only preoccupied with the good of others, for which he does everything.