Comments on: Epiphenomenalism http://www.consciousnessblog.net/2009/04/06/epiphenomenalism/ Integrating ideas from science, philosophy & mysticism Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:54:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: John H http://www.consciousnessblog.net/2009/04/06/epiphenomenalism/comment-page-1/#comment-224 John H Tue, 05 Apr 2011 23:30:08 +0000 http://www.consciousnessblog.net/2009/04/06/epiphenomenalism/#comment-224 Interesting post... it seems to me that both complexity of a system and the systems ability to connect its parts -- physically -- are both a requirement for consciousness. With a brain, there is a lot of electrical oscillation and the possiblity of electrical fields so that is a physical connection. There is less of this type of physical connection between me and my toaster for instance, which is perhaps why I feel less connected to my toaster than to my thoughts or perceptions. Anyway, my point is that a physical connection seems to me necessary for consciousness, which is why I am skeptical that "China" could have a consciousness or conscious experience of any kind. Consciousness seems to me to be a "byproduct" in that it is not necessary for motor control, perception, or even thinking to a large extent. On the other hand, conscious experience does seem to be closely linked to one's attention and goals, and thus seems to indicate what a person considers or judges to be the most important perception and cognition going on at that time. Interesting post… it seems to me that both complexity of a system and the systems ability to connect its parts — physically — are both a requirement for consciousness. With a brain, there is a lot of electrical oscillation and the possiblity of electrical fields so that is a physical connection. There is less of this type of physical connection between me and my toaster for instance, which is perhaps why I feel less connected to my toaster than to my thoughts or perceptions.

Anyway, my point is that a physical connection seems to me necessary for consciousness, which is why I am skeptical that “China” could have a consciousness or conscious experience of any kind.

Consciousness seems to me to be a “byproduct” in that it is not necessary for motor control, perception, or even thinking to a large extent. On the other hand, conscious experience does seem to be closely linked to one’s attention and goals, and thus seems to indicate what a person considers or judges to be the most important perception and cognition going on at that time.

]]>