Religion and Ethics Forum
Religion and Ethics Discussion => Theism and Atheism => Topic started by: Sriram on November 16, 2017, 03:42:28 PM
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Hi everyone,
Here is an article about Integrated Information Theory that seeks to explain Consciousness.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/bobby-azarian/post_10079_b_8160914.html
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It appears that we are approaching a unique time in the history of man and science where empirical measures and deductive reasoning can actually inform us spiritually. Integrated Information Theory (IIT)—put forth by neuroscientists Giulio Tononi and Christof Koch—is a new framework that describes a way to experimentally measure the extent to which a system is conscious.
Integrated Information Theory (IIT), which has become quite a hot topic in contemporary neuroscience, claims to provide a precise way to measure consciousness and express the phenomenon in purely mathematical terms. The theory was put forth by psychiatrist and neuroscientist Giulio Tononi, and has attracted some highly regarded names in the science community. One such name is Christof Koch, Chief Scientific Officer at the Allen Institute for Brain Science, who now champions the idea along with Tononi.
IIT says that anything with a non-zero Phi has subjective experience. This includes subatomic particles. Koch writes:
“Even simple matter has a modicum of Φ [integrated information]. Protons and neutrons consist of a triad of quarks that are never observed in isolation. They constitute an infinitesimal integrated system.”
This has profound consequences. It would mean that consciousness is spread throughout space like a cosmic web of experience. Of course awareness is greatest where there is significant information integration, but in essence, “mind” (or “psyche”) is everywhere.
Koch goes on:
“The entire cosmos is suffused with sentience. We are surrounded and immersed in consciousness; it is in the air we breathe, the soil we tread on, the bacteria that colonize our intestines, and the brain that enables us to think.”
IIT’s inevitable logical conclusions and philosophical implications are both elegant and precise. What it yields is a new kind of scientific spirituality that paints a picture of a soulful existence that even the most diehard materialist or devout atheist can unashamedly get behind.
“The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend personal God and avoid dogma and theology. Covering both the natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things natural and spiritual as a meaningful unity.” -Albert Einstein
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Cheers.
Sriram
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There seem to be several new fancy phrases being bandied around nowadays to try and say that consciousness exists outside brains. I have heard the phrase pan-psychism and infodynamics and although they seem to contain some factual science embedded somewhere, they are so surrounded by word streams and psycho-babble that the science is hard to pinpoint. Actually, Sriram, you might like to watch videos by Jude Currivan- I think they might appeal to you! She waves her arms about a lot and her sentences are long, and designed to impress but in my opinion, are very muddled.
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Deepak Sriram,
It appears that we are approaching a unique time in the history of man and science where empirical measures and deductive reasoning can actually inform us spiritually...
What SI units are you using to measure "spirituality" exactly?
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Hillside. I'm reading that there is a new field called neurotheology. New Atheist Sam iHarris is interested in applying neuroscientific techniques To religion
I'm wondering though whether since atheism is the abnormal state whether it should be called Neuroatheism?
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Deepak Sriram,
What SI units are you using to measure "spirituality" exactly?
The Kilodennett.
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Deepak Sriram,
What SI units are you using to measure "spirituality" exactly?
You're the physicalist around here.....you jolly well tell us!
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You're the physicalist around here.....you jolly well tell us!
Stupidness Indicators, would be my guess.
Or, just for those of the scatological persuasion.
Shit Indices.
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Stupidness Indicators, would be my guess.
Or, just for those of the scatological persuasion.
Shit Indices.
Seb, Antitheist humour is measured in picochuckles.
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Seb, Antitheist humour is measured in picochuckles.
Is that right?
Show me some then?
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Is that right?
Show me some then?
There is as yet no equipment sensitive. All we have to detect antitheist humour is silence and tumbleweed.
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There is as yet no equipment sensitive. All we have to detect antitheist humour is silence and tumbleweed.
So you dont actually know what it is that you are measuring (in picochuckles)?
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From the OP.
"This has profound consequences. It would mean that consciousness is spread throughout space like a cosmic web of experience. Of course awareness is greatest where there is significant information integration, but in essence, “mind” (or “psyche”) is everywhere."
“The entire cosmos is suffused with sentience. We are surrounded and immersed in consciousness; it is in the air we breathe, the soil we tread on, the bacteria that colonize our intestines, and the brain that enables us to think.”
I like this, especially coming from scientists. This is what Hindu philosophy has been saying for millennia. Even Taoism says similar things.
Not bad...things seem to be converging.... though, as always happens, it will take couple more generations for the common folk to appreciate it.
Nice....!
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From the OP.
"This has profound consequences. It would mean that consciousness is spread throughout space like a cosmic web of experience. Of course awareness is greatest where there is significant information integration, but in essence, “mind” (or “psyche”) is everywhere."
“The entire cosmos is suffused with sentience. We are surrounded and immersed in consciousness; it is in the air we breathe, the soil we tread on, the bacteria that colonize our intestines, and the brain that enables us to think.”
I like this, especially coming from scientists. This is what Hindu philosophy has been saying for millennia. Even Taoism says similar things.
Not bad...things seem to be converging.... though, as always happens, it will take couple more generations for the common folk to appreciate it.
Nice....!
If you haven't done so already Sriram, have a read of 'Arthur C Clark's' book 'Childhood's End'.
Regards ippy