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Sure, but there's a purely subjective aspect of consciousness, which by nature of being subjective, cannot be objectively quantified or measured. This puts it s
by NickM 4y ago
Sure, but there's a purely subjective aspect of consciousness, which by nature of being subjective, cannot be objectively quantified or measured. This puts it squarely outside the realm of science, which is deliberately and solely focused on measuring objective phenomena.
- mannykannot 4y agoTo NickM and whimsicalism: The quantitative argument is a red herring. Science is one of the disciplines in the business of explaining things, not in the business of calculating values, but it just so happens that when you get into the details, quantifying properties leads to better explanations. For example, I can give a qualitative explanation for why it rains, which can be expanded into a quantitative one. The subjectivity of experience can be attributed to the scientifically-explainable inability of our conscious mind to directly access the physical state of the brain. If arguments such as "Mary the Neuroscientist" show anything, it is that phenomenal experiences can not be conveyed by any language, scientific or otherwise, so if you are demanding an explanation must do that, neither science nor philosophy nor anything else will explain consciousness.
- waserwill 4y agoWhat's wrong with helping consciousness in the realm of poetry and religion? It's the most humanistic thing we can know, after all. Consciousness, being internal and subjective, exists at odds with anything else that science considers. Sure, study cognition and neurology, but there's an ontological gap between those and experience.
- mannykannot 4y agoWho is saying there is anything against either poetry or religion saying whatever they can about consciousness? I'm doubting the value of pidgeonholing. To claim an ontological gap is to put the cart before the horse. If or when we understand consciousness, we will be able to tell if there is a relevant ontological gap, or whether it is an illusion generated by our ignorance.
- whimsicalism 4y agoI never said anything about quantitativeness, but science is the art of predicting the results of experiments/observations.. I agree with the second bit you are saying - we cannot convey these experiences so it is outside the realm of science.
- mannykannot 4y agoPredicting the results of experiments/observations is a means, not an end. A theory is much more than a compendium of the things it predicts. Would you say that rain is inexplicable because no explanation can actually cause rain?