Life as a manifestation of the universe

[NoEgo]

..or of consciousness..

Who likes this theory?

 

[Ibn Khaldoun]

I used to - it's still appealing now. But then I realised we're a rare, ephemeral instance of conscious life, inhabiting the less than 1% of a disappearing universe that is in any way tangible to it.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

What is the theory? We are part of the universe. What else?

 

[goldenecitrone]

What is the theory? We are part of the universe. What else?

We are the universe imagining itself I would guess.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Imagine if your asshole was a flushable toilet. And you could work your head in there.

Then, you hit the flush bar, and you just keep hitting it, over and over, and you recycle through the thing, for eternity.

 

[Purdie]

http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=73566

 

[Bajie]

..or of consciousness..

Who likes this theory?

Shit, is it? maybe, it could just be, then again no?
or perhaps yes? hmm

 

[TrippyLondoner]

Shit, is it? maybe, it could just be, then again no?
or perhaps yes? hmm

I'm gonna go with this answer.

 

[Disjecta Membra]

no ego, you really don't do the word theory justice.

 

[Mr Average]

..or of consciousness..

Who likes this theory?

A friend said that the universe simply woke up and looked back at itself.

 

[danny la rouge]

We are the universe imagining itself I would guess.

We have to imagine the theory, and then say whether we like it?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

We have to imagine the theory, and then say whether we like it?

Ah, I see.

*imagines theory*

Oooo, good theory.

 

[danny la rouge]

OK, No Ego, I'm at a loose end, so I'll engage a little. If you want us to answer your question, though, you'll need to explain a little more about what you mean. (If you actually mean anything, and haven't just plucked some key words from a New Age Guff Generator). Your first difficulty, of course, will be in defining 'life'. For now, though, let's go with "the feature that differentiates the organic from the inorganic".

Now you have to explain in what way you mean that it is a "manifestation" of the universe. A sign that the universe exists? A symptom of the universe existing? What is it you're saying?

Then you tacked on "or of consciousness". What does that mean? That if life isn't a manifestation of the universe, it's a manifestation of consciousness? Is that the thesis? That can be fairly quickly dismissed as a false dichotomy. Not only have you not demonstrated what either statement means, you have not established that either statement is true, far less that they are the only possible options.

Or are you suggesting that life, rather than vaguely a manifestation of the universe, is specifically the consciousness of the universe? So that life - the feature that organisms have which inorganic matter doesn't have - is in some way, metaphorically or literally, the universe's awaress or wakefulness.

You'd need to explain what you mean by that. That replicating RNA was the universe waking up? What does that actually mean?

 

[kyser_soze]

I've imagined it, and it turns out it's the religion of an SF species from Babylon 5 called the Minbari.

 

[Fruitloop]

They've given up trying with the anagrams haven't they.

 

[danny la rouge]

They've given up trying with the anagrams haven't they.

Mini bra?

 

[Fruitloop]

Mini-bar? You get writer's block, check into a cheap hotel, empty the contents, then just as you're slouching into unconciousness opposite the fridge the muse visits you. Or not, as the case may be.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

We are the universe imagining itself I would guess.

If I was the universe I would like to think I had a better imagination.

 

[danny la rouge]

Mini-bar? You get writer's block, check into a cheap hotel, empty the contents, then just as you're slouching into unconciousness opposite the fridge the muse visits you. Or not, as the case may be.

It could be I'm Brain (of the universe). <tries to force the thread back on topic>

 

[kyser_soze]

Mini-bar? You get writer's block, check into a cheap hotel, empty the contents, then just as you're slouching into unconciousness opposite the fridge the muse visits you. Or not, as the case may be.

Maybe the universe is a manifestation of the conscience of an MPs husband who has raided the mini-bar on expenses and is about to watch some PPV porn...

 

[Fruitloop]

lol.

Could get interesting...

 

[kyser_soze]

The whole universe is in fact a mini-bar. With no peanuts.

 

[danny la rouge]

Come on, No Ego, say something! I've spent all morning on the dinner party thread!

 

[danny la rouge]

What happened? Was the universe knocked unconscious?

 

[NoEgo]

It's "new-ageist" stuff I suppose if you want to put a label on it.

By life I mean in as all things living.

Defining "consiousness" is much harder. I would best describe it as an unseen collective force of knowledge. It really depends whether you think that consciousness is something that just happens or is omnipresent and separate from living life.

 

[TrippyLondoner]

It's "new-ageist" stuff I suppose if you want to put a label on it.

By life I mean in as all things living.

Defining "consiousness" is much harder. I would best describe it as an unseen collective force of knowledge. It really depends whether you think that consciousness is something that just happens or is omnipresent and separate from living life.

I really wouldn't bother thinking too hard about it, you just end up confusing yourself. Consciousness to me is just being alive/being able to experience. Doesn't need anymore explanation for me.

 

[danny la rouge]

Defining "consiousness" is much harder. I would best describe it as an unseen collective force of knowledge. It really depends whether you think that consciousness is something that just happens or is omnipresent and separate from living life.

Defining consciousness is easier; I already did it in my post. The question I was asking wasn't what you mean by consciousness, but what you mean by your sentence.

Do you mean that if life isn't a manifestation of the universe, it's a manifestation of consciousness? Did you intend by your sentence, the setting up of a dichotomy? - Life is a, a manifestation of the universe, but if it isn't it's b, a manifestation of consciousness.

Or does your sentence mean that life, rather than vaguely a manifestation of the universe, is specifically the consciousness of the universe?

And in either case, what does this mean. What are the mechanisms. What does it mean to you when you say that life is a manifestation of the universe? Or that it's the universe's consciousness?

 

[N_igma]

Pass the dutchie on the left hand side!

 

[Jonti]

It's "new-ageist" stuff I suppose if you want to put a label on it.

By life I mean in as all things living.

Defining "consiousness" is much harder. I would best describe it as an unseen collective force of knowledge. It really depends whether you think that consciousness is something that just happens or is omnipresent and separate from living life.

Consciousness is interpretation. Put it another way, we cannot help but interpret our situation, that's what it means to be conscious. This is why we are condemned to be free, for to be conscious is to interpret the world.

And yeah, I think consciousness "just happens" ~ you can't see a thought coming, or awareness arising. These things just happen if you're conscious.

So no, consciousness isn't omnipresent and separate from living bodies. Not in my world, anyway; I've never encountered a disembodied consciousness. Has anyone? I know lots of people believe in ghosts and spirits and the like, but all the same, I reckon that's a mistaken belief. Truth is, the only conscious things any of us have ever met, except in our dreams, are other conscious bodies.

 

[Blagsta]

Our self awareness is neccesarily embodied, it arises as a consequence of having a body. Read Antonio Damasio's "Descartes Error" and "The Feeling of What Happens".