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Stierlitz

> Does Consciousness Pervade the Universe?

NO!

> Where does consciousness come from?

Emergent properties of a functional brain.

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Why such a quick dismissal? We have virtually zero evidence one way or the other. Calling consciousness an “emergent property” is a cop-out answer. What, materially, is that property, what physical laws explain it, and by what mechanism does it emerge from mere electrical impulses?

> .. What, materially, is that property ..

Synapses firing ..

> .. what physical laws explain it ..

Physics ..

> .. and by what mechanism does it emerge from mere electrical impulses?

Through the senses and acting on the environment through muscles triggered by synapses firing.

Heard of the China brain thought experiment? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_brain

Would such a brain be conscious? Why or why not?

> Would such a brain be conscious? Why or why not?

If the brain was stimulated by inputs from the surrounding environment then YES!

How functional must a brain be? We know that we can remove at least half of a human brain and still have a somewhat functional person. Where is the line drawn?

There are several conditions where a brain loses consciousness, the most common is sleeping. Joscha Bach has some interesting thoughts on what is needed to be conscious. Stanislas Dehaene and Thomas Metzinger have done interesting scientific research with respect to the brain and (various states of) consciousness.

Who says the brain loses consciousness when sleeping ? How do you discern between the absence of consciousness and the absence of objects in consciousness ?

Have you ever had the experience of losing consciousness ? How long did it last, in your own experience ?

I have been through deep sleep, knockouts and anesthesia, yet have never experienced the disappearance of my consciousness. Does deep sleep not feel instantaneous to you ?

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