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Science

Martin68

(26,191 posts)

8. Science starts with science. Not intuitions and feelings. It forms hypotheses based on observed phenomena. This

Reply to Uncle Joe (Reply #7)

Fri Mar 21, 2025, 05:17 PM

Mar 2025

story does not mention a single reason to believe that individual atoms have consciousness. Science is looking for consciousness in the brain where a hundred billion connections among 100 trillion neurons that form the neural networks. Scientists believe consciousness is a function of the complexity of those electrical connections in the brain. The only sense in which we can say atoms are "involved" in consciousness is the fact that neurons, and all matter, are composed of molecules.

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Science is shattering our intuitions about consciousness Annaka Harris [View all] Uncle Joe Mar 2025 OP

Link to the "Big Think" site. erronis Mar 2025 #1

Seems Faux pas Mar 2025 #2

Disappointing. 10 minutes of words, few facts, no explanation of the "all-pervading force" idea. . . .nt Bernardo de La Paz Mar 2025 #3

Annaka is freaking awesome stoned Mar 2025 #4

It's so interesting because this is the premise set out Mike 03 Mar 2025 #5

It's a good explanation. Enlightening! Thanks Easterncedar Mar 2025 #16

Ummm, this has nothing to do with science. New Age woo. Martin68 Mar 2025 #6

Doesn't science start with questions and hypothesis? Uncle Joe Mar 2025 #7

Science starts with science. Not intuitions and feelings. It forms hypotheses based on observed phenomena. This Martin68 Mar 2025 #8

and in turn atoms are composed of sub-atomic particles Uncle Joe Mar 2025 #9

The farther down you break it, the farther you get from consciousness. This is pure woo. Martin68 Mar 2025 #10

Do the leaves on some plants turn toward sunlight? Uncle Joe Mar 2025 #11

Just a note: biochemistry can explain phototropism. Jim__ Mar 2025 #13

That's a clear "no." It is a chemical reaction within chloroplasts. No consciousness is needed, just as we breathe Martin68 Mar 2025 #14

Doesn't the brain operate by chemical reactions? Uncle Joe Mar 2025 #15

Yup. The key point is that consciousness rises out of complexity. Individual atoms are not conscious. Individual neurons Martin68 Mar 2025 #17

Panpsychism? Jim__ Mar 2025 #12

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