Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id LAA24709 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 3 Oct 2000 11:32:47 +0100 Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3101745A61@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: the conscious universe Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2000 11:30:15 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>But do we ever experience their consciousness? I don't think so.
>I say we take it on faith -- and that's exactly as it should be.
>Skepticism ultimately falls into solipsism.
Wouldn't it be logical to assume that if we have never experienced the
consciousness of rocks that they AREN'T CONSCIOUS? Of course, one would
have to test this assumption empirically.
There's a further question here- what's the value of believing (knowing, as
you contend) that rocks are conscious anyway?
If you want to redefine consciousness to include inanimate, inorganic
objects like rocks then surely your are reducing the meaning of the term
consciousness to a mundane rather than a profound level.
Vincent
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