JackofSpades said:

I know Buddhism isn't absolute truth (I believe in it is all) but Buddhism and the psychedelic experience both seem to suggest that reality is just a manifestation of the mind...


So in pure essence, all is consciousness. Therefore consciousness is evolving into the realization of itself.

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Noteworthy said:

I think it is a silly hypothetical because we don't know if the brain CAN be replicated.
But I await your return, to explain how consciousness plays a role in the evolution of... life

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kydelic said:

It doesn't...life evolves, the consciousness does.

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Noteworthy said:

kydelic! if you are going to butt in, please take note of the opinions that are being discussed. If you do not think consciousness plays a role in evolution of life, why not sit back and await Nymphaea's answer?

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Kydelic pretty much answered the question for me.

We evolved consciousness.  We are the most highly conscious of all the animals on Earth, but other animals also exhibit certain signs of some varying levels of consciousness.  It has evolved as a side effect of thinking and also as something that furthers our survival.  Being conscious improves our chances of survival as well as the chances for the survival of the species.  I also think that animals as a collective evolving consciousness helps for the survival of all the animals.

When we are conscious we are more motivated to live.  When we are conscious we hold oursevles more responsible for our actions which improves the chances of survival of our species as well as the rest of life on Earth.  When we are conscious and we realize that everyone else is life takes on a new meaning.  I think we are less likely to kill and we are more likely to save someone else.  We are more likely to help those in suffering because we realize that they are actaully experiencing the suffering.  To a certain extent consciousness evolved because animals evolved thinking about the past and the future.  (At least humans did for sure).

Anyways, back to the question of whether or not the brain can be replicated.  Can the actual physical make up of the brain never be replicated because it is just to highly complex?  Or is there something more then just physical and that is why it can not be replicated?  If it is just the fact that it is a physical structure then where is the "soul?"

i don't think it makes the brain any less special or significant int he universe to think of it strictly as a physical thing.  It truly is amazing that this highly complex structure can actually experience the universe, and it is the only thing that gives the universe any meaning.  The meaning of the universe is to create life, and the meaning of life is to experience.  The brain amazes me, and I sometimes call consciousness and collective copiousness the "soul."

I do not do a great job of explaining everything that I mean.  I wish I could.  I highly recommend you read this book in the link below sometime.  It explains what I am trying to say using really good metaphors and clear explanations.  The ideas in this book are so deep that I guarantee they will blow your mind.  It has permanently changed the way I've thought about a lot of different things.  I kind of compare it to an acid trip that you will remember all your epiphanies from.

You should smoke while you read this book too, best read well high ever. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_A_Strange_Loop

This is a very lively conversation and I have been enjoying it.

Quote:

You should smoke while you read this book too, best read well high ever.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_A_Strange_Loop

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I've been wanting to read that for a while now, I'm guessing it is good then? I just need to give my brain a break from nonfiction though

kydelic said:

Quote:

You should smoke while you read this book too, best read well high ever.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_A_Strange_Loop

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I've been wanting to read that for a while now, I'm guessing it is good then? I just need to give my brain a break from nonfiction though

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