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quoting the author "Using electrons, protons, and neutrons, it is possible to build: ... a conscious mind; " are 'you' just a collection of electrons, protons

quoting the author "Using electrons, protons, and neutrons, it is possible to build: ... a conscious mind; " are 'you' just a collection of electrons, protons and neutrons ?

djokkataja 7y ago
Fundamentally, all that I am is built from electrons, protons, and neutrons, but if you think I am "just a collection" of such things, you might struggle to differentiate between a human and a rock. I also think that thinking of ourselves as "ultimately" being "nothing more" than whatever fundamentals give rise to our existence is a great way to deprive ourselves of meaning, given that there's quite a bit that goes on between the subatomic level and the experience you have as you read this. For example, from my own particular materialist point of view, I don't spend much time thinking about subatomic particles when I want to deepen the sense of "meaning" I have about any particular experience.
- Lambdanaut 7y ago
  I am the rock. Though currently I am experiencing this body.
- ta1234567890 7y ago
  Fundamentally, I believe, the main issue is that we have a tendency to believe or think that "reality" (the world/universe), is separate from us. But we cannot separate our perception or experience of reality from it. If I don't exist, then _my_ reality doesn't exist. And there's no way for anyone to experience anyone else's reality. So all individual realities are that, individual, and maybe a lot of us can agree on some stuff, but that doesn't necessarily mean that stuff is objectively real for everyone/the universe. We each individually assign meaning to our own experiences and then need to deal with the (maybe apparent) difference in meaning or interpretation among ourselves. I believe the next big revolution in physics is going to come from incorporating perception and "the observer" as a fundamental part of the models. Consciousness, from my perspective, is the only way we have to "know" the world, which to me means that consciousness is even more basic/fundamental than matter, time or space. And so far, the whole field of physics has been pretty much ignoring it ️
  - CrasVestibulum 7y ago
    well said! The argument between various schools of philosophy (which includes Materialists / Realists) is age old. We need to revisit / refresh each point of views so we deepen the understanding of 'our' nature. I would suggest a reading of Vedanta school of philosophy as a counter point to Materialism.
  - Retra 7y ago
    Yes, physicists are bad at physics because they don't engage in enough woo and wishful thinking. And all of their theories and understandings will become invalid any moment now... just wait...

quoting the author "Using electrons, protons, and neutrons, it is possible to build: ... a conscious mind; " are 'you' just a collection of electrons, protons and neutrons ?

djokkataja 7y ago

Fundamentally, all that I am is built from electrons, protons, and neutrons, but if you think I am "just a collection" of such things, you might struggle to differentiate between a human and a rock. I also think that thinking of ourselves as "ultimately" being "nothing more" than whatever fundamentals give rise to our existence is a great way to deprive ourselves of meaning, given that there's quite a bit that goes on between the subatomic level and the experience you have as you read this. For example, from my own particular materialist point of view, I don't spend much time thinking about subatomic particles when I want to deepen the sense of "meaning" I have about any particular experience.

Lambdanaut 7y ago
I am the rock. Though currently I am experiencing this body.
ta1234567890 7y ago
Fundamentally, I believe, the main issue is that we have a tendency to believe or think that "reality" (the world/universe), is separate from us. But we cannot separate our perception or experience of reality from it. If I don't exist, then _my_ reality doesn't exist. And there's no way for anyone to experience anyone else's reality. So all individual realities are that, individual, and maybe a lot of us can agree on some stuff, but that doesn't necessarily mean that stuff is objectively real for everyone/the universe. We each individually assign meaning to our own experiences and then need to deal with the (maybe apparent) difference in meaning or interpretation among ourselves. I believe the next big revolution in physics is going to come from incorporating perception and "the observer" as a fundamental part of the models. Consciousness, from my perspective, is the only way we have to "know" the world, which to me means that consciousness is even more basic/fundamental than matter, time or space. And so far, the whole field of physics has been pretty much ignoring it ️
- CrasVestibulum 7y ago
  well said! The argument between various schools of philosophy (which includes Materialists / Realists) is age old. We need to revisit / refresh each point of views so we deepen the understanding of 'our' nature. I would suggest a reading of Vedanta school of philosophy as a counter point to Materialism.
- Retra 7y ago
  Yes, physicists are bad at physics because they don't engage in enough woo and wishful thinking. And all of their theories and understandings will become invalid any moment now... just wait...