RE: virus: The One or the Many? (was: META)

Robin Faichney (r.j.faichney@stir.ac.uk)
Thu, 30 Oct 1997 11:18:56 -0000


[Robin wrote]
> >> > Also, memes will no more be found in the
> >> >brain or anywhere else than will consciousness.
> [Robin also wrote]
> >Sorry, can you explain your problem with it?
[Wade wrote]
> Yes- do you mean to say they will be found somewhere else, or that
> consciousness, in all respects, is a figment of imagination or
> nomenclature?
>
> You seem to be making the claim that consciousness does not exist, by
> regards of being unfindable.
>
(Here we go!)

In wholly objective terms, consciousness does not exist.
It is an intersubjective phenomenon, a folk psychological
concept that serves to differentiate those kinds of thing
with which we identify from those with which we do not.

I'm talking here about consciousness in the sense that
humans and probably some other species are considered
conscious, while rocks are not. Consciousness as
distinguished from a temporary state of
unconsciousness, is a slightly different concept.

And I have to insist that matter is no more real than is
consciousness -- both are concepts that are useful for
some purposes, and useless for others. I'm certainly
not a materialist, and I don't like being taken for one.
Mind is at least as important as matter, even though
ultimately both are mere appearance, ripples on the
ocean of reality.

Robin