Religion and Ethics Forum
Religion and Ethics Discussion => Philosophy, in all its guises. => Topic started by: Sriram on September 06, 2019, 07:08:37 AM
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Hi everyone,
I have written about the common consciousness...panpsychism... and so on. This is a very distinct possibility as we know that the ecology works as a system and there is some kind of a coordination between all living beings.
This common (un)conscious mind has been written about (is being written about ) by many philosophers and thinkers. What it is, is not as important as acknowledging that it exists.
I know most of you will jump at it with the tedious 'where is the evidence'? The entire ecological system is the evidence. We can also 'know' this subjectively through Yoga and certain meditations.
Cheers.
Sriram
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Hi everyone,
I have written about the common consciousness...panpsychism... and so on. This is a very distinct possibility as we know that the ecology works as a system and there is some kind of a coordination between all living beings.
This common (un)conscious mind has been written about (is being written about ) by many philosophers and thinkers. What it is, is not as important as acknowledging that it exists.
I know most of you will jump at it with the tedious 'where is the evidence'? The entire ecological system is the evidence. We can also 'know' this subjectively through Yoga and certain meditations.
Cheers.
Sriram
It's an uncontroversial understanding that the various elements of an ecosystem interact in a number of ways, but at no point have I come across anything that reliably supports the concept of a shared subconscious - all the interactions identified have definitive physical methodologies.
There have been people attempt to formulate scientific hypotheses about such things - Rupert Sheldrake springs immediately to mind - but I've never seen them proffer anything reliable in the way of evidence from solidly conducted studies to back it up. As such, it remains just one of any number of 'possibilities', but nothing more.
O.
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It's an uncontroversial understanding that the various elements of an ecosystem interact in a number of ways, but at no point have I come across anything that reliably supports the concept of a shared subconscious - all the interactions identified have definitive physical methodologies.
There have been people attempt to formulate scientific hypotheses about such things - Rupert Sheldrake springs immediately to mind - but I've never seen them proffer anything reliable in the way of evidence from solidly conducted studies to back it up. As such, it remains just one of any number of 'possibilities', but nothing more.
O.
The idea of a common consciousness is a ancient one from the days of the Vedanta 3000 years ago....maybe even earlier.
One of the reasons for this idea is the complexity of life and its interconnected nature. All physical activities will naturally have physical methods of intervention. We can see that even in our own lives, for example, when we see a child and feel a sense of love and joy...there is a physical component in terms of chemicals and hormones rushing in. But the trigger is the mind and the physical reaction is a consequence. Just because there is a physical component to every action or reaction does not mean it is entirely physical.
We will once get into an argument about the nature of the mind and the real nature of Consciousness.
Second is the sense of interconnectness that many people feel subjectively. This is something we can learn to experience by trying to eliminate the sense of individuality that we normally feel. The less the sense of individuality the more the sense of interconnectedness. That is why self centric mindsets are discouraged in spiritual practices.
Yes....as you say..a common consciousness is a possibility in terms of objective scientific research but in terms of personal acceptance it is a certainty for many people.
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Sriram,
What it is, is not as important as acknowledging that it exists.
Up to your old trick again then eh? All we can reasonably acknowledge is the possibility that it exists. As with your other claims and assertions though (auras, biofields etc) you have all you work ahead of you to demonstrate a logical path from the possible to the probable.
Good luck with it though.
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I think it's reasonable, just as collective memory is.
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One of the reasons for this idea is the complexity of life and its interconnected nature.
All of which we have well tested explanations for, that don't need "common consciousness".
Yes....as you say..a common consciousness is a possibility in terms of objective scientific research but in terms of personal acceptance it is a certainty for many people.
Only if they are irrational enough to think that if it feels like something is objectively real, then it is. The rational mind requires objective evidence for claims of objective fact.