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Consciousness question

GaryLifo

New Blood
G
Joined
Jan 17, 2006
Messages
10
Hi, this is my first ever post on these boards.

I cannot seem to post in the 'introduce yourself' thread for some reason, so very briefly about me and then onto my question.

I am 30 years old male 2nd year psychology undergraduate living in the south of England in the UK. I was formerly an electronics engineer for nearly ten years before deciding to change my career, and now I am planning to go into forensic psychology when I graduate.

Right, on to my question.

Seeing as psychics and believers in many of the theistic religions believe in a separation of mind and body, (dualism), how do they account for this when we are under the influence of some kind of anaesthetic during surgery.

I am assuming that the drugs that put us into a state of unconsciousness could not work if the mind and body were separate. Surely, if we had a separate soul, we would discover this very quickly during drug induced unconsciousness?

From personal experience, I have had several surgeries and not once was I conscious in any way during any of them.
 
Welcome, Gary!

It seems to me that each believer has a different idea to account for the cherished idea of "separation of mind and body." Whatever you do, don't ask Iacchus about it, trust me.

Personally, I think one of those entities is fictional.
 
GaryLifo said:
in which case, I must ask you a question as to your use of the word 'for'

do you mean it as 'on behalf of'

or 'to obtain or use'
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That depends entirely on the soul.

and another thing... what about my question? surely this point has been raised before?
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Your original question, you mean? I've seen similar questions raised, and seen numerous drivel-laden responses to it, none of which I care to remember nor repeat. :p
 
You ask an interesting question, GaryLifo.

To answer it, we must first define consciousness.
 
Ryokan said:
You ask an interesting question, GaryLifo.

To answer it, we must first define consciousness.
Click to expand...


ok, I will define it only in the context of which I ask this question.

The state where I am able to think in a way where I can attempt to interpret whichever environment I am and make continuous legible thoughts about that environment.

Let us say the state of mind I would be in were I sat in a chair in a room and was awake and free to think as I wish.

If the conscious is truly separate from the body, I should be able to continue my awareness of what is around me regardless of whether my body has been made medically unconscious.
 
Ryokan said:
You ask an interesting question, GaryLifo.

To answer it, we must first define consciousness.
Click to expand...
Yes, exactly, how does consciousness define itself? Are you sure that it isn't consciousness that defines us, as well as everything we observe by means of it? Look at how life has evolved on this planet. Isn't it pretty much defined by its relationship with the sun? How should this vary from consciousness, and the creatures which rise from the id? Indeed, how do we in fact know that consciousness isn't the greater sphere, by which time and space and the temporal world we live in is the lessor sphere? It would be if, in fact there was a conscious Creator who created it all, don't you think? ;)
 
Iacchus said:
Yes, exactly, how does consciousness define itself? Are you sure that it isn't consciousness that defines us, as well as everything we observe by means of it? Look at how life has evolved on this planet. Isn't it pretty much defined by its relationship with the sun? How should this vary from consciousness, and the creatures which rise from the id? Indeed, how do we in fact know that consciousness isn't the greater sphere, by which time and space and the temporal world we live is the lessor sphere? It would be if, in fact there was a conscious Creator who created it all, don't you think? ;)
Click to expand...

no. ;)
 
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