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This video........is awesome.

#41
champbassist said:
Last year I composed a song for my band on the exact same topic as the video in the OP called 'Chimps Are Close To Us'

One more thing, I'm really surprised at the fact that there seems to be this notion that only humans have 'consciousness'. As said in the video, "the monkeys are cursed with 'consciousness'". I don't think that's true only for humans (i.e. monkeys in this case). Is this some kind of scientific fact I don't know about? That only humans are 'considered' to have the sense of consciousness?
Click to expand...

I guess the problem is hinted at by the fact that you put "consciousness" in quotes. It's not an easy concept, nor a binary one. There may well be different aspects of consciousness experienced by different species, including our own.

I recommend "Conciousness Explained" by Dan Dennett (even though some of his critics refer to the book as " Consciousness Explained Away" :D).
 
#42
bassybill said:
I guess the problem is hinted at by the fact that you put "consciousness" in quotes. It's not an easy concept, nor a binary one. There may well be different aspects of consciousness experienced by different species, including our own.

I recommend "Conciousness Explained" by Dan Dennett (even though some of his critics refer to the book as " Consciousness Explained Away" :D).
Click to expand...

I was actually kinda expecting a thorough response from you, bringing forward your insight regarding this topic :) I guess it's too complicated to describe this concept in a few words on an internet forum ;)

The nature of consciousness is one topic that fascinates me tremendously. Had I not been a computer science student, I'd have definitely taken up psychology and researched this.

Thanks for the referring the book. Will check it out :)
 
#43
champbassist said:
I was actually kinda expecting a thorough response from you, bringing forward your insight regarding this topic :) I guess it's too complicated to describe this concept in a few words on an internet forum ;)

The nature of consciousness is one topic that fascinates me tremendously. Had I not been a computer science student, I'd have definitely taken up psychology and researched this.

Thanks for the referring the book. Will check it out :)
Click to expand...
Too complicated is absolutely right. But it IS fascinating. The Dennett book is an excellent read, although a very challenging one. But please don't let that put you off - the best books are often the most difficult, right?

If you do read it, I'd be very interested to hear what you think of it afterwards.
 
#44
Mudding Meditations:
Made in the likeliness of God. I've experienced the creative power of my mind. I've experienced the fulfillment of my heart. I tend to feel more connected, more whole, more united when on the path of my heart. Although I catch myself impressed by what I can create, it usually leaves me feeling alone and empty. I feel where i am supposed to be when in a state of thanksgiving, when in the flow of grace. Perhaps we were given the gift of God strictly to be caretakers and stewards of this creation. And given hearts to be in awe of what was created for us...
 
#50
hbarcat said:
Angels on the sideline,
Puzzled and amused.
Why did Father give these humans free will?
Now they're all confused.
Don't these talking monkeys know that
Eden has enough to go around?
Plenty in this holy garden, silly monkeys,
Where there's one you're bound to divide it.
Right in two.

Angels on the sideline,
Baffled and confused.
Father blessed them all with reason.
And this is what they choose.
And this is what they choose...
Monkey killing monkey killing monkey
Over pieces of the ground.
Silly monkeys give them thumbs,
They forge a blade,
And where there's one
they're bound to divide it,
Right in two.
Right in two.

Monkey killing monkey killing monkey.
Over pieces of the ground.
Silly monkeys give them thumbs.
They make a club.
And beat their brother, down.
How they survive so misguided is a mystery.
Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability to lift an eye to heaven conscious of his fleeting time here.

Cut it all right in two

Fight over the clouds, over wind, over sky
Fight over life, over blood, over prayer,
overhead and light
Fight over love, over sun,
over another, Fight...

Angels on the sideline again.
Benched along with patience and reason.
Angels on the sideline again
Wondering when this tug of war will end.

Cut it all right in two
RIGHT IN TWO!
Right in two...
Click to expand...

I think I love you for this. ^_^
 
#51
bassybill said:
I guess the problem is hinted at by the fact that you put "consciousness" in quotes. It's not an easy concept, nor a binary one. There may well be different aspects of consciousness experienced by different species, including our own.

I recommend "Conciousness Explained" by Dan Dennett (even though some of his critics refer to the book as " Consciousness Explained Away" :D).
Click to expand...



I'll definitely give this book a read. :cool:
 
#52
champbassist said:
The nature of consciousness is one topic that fascinates me tremendously. Had I not been a computer science student, I'd have definitely taken up psychology and researched this.
Click to expand...

In addition to bassybill's recommendation for the Dennet book, I recommend Shadow's of Forgotten Ancestors by Carl Sagan. Although less technically involved, he presents some very interesting insight into how our human consciousness as related to our ape cousins and also how it compares to our more distant primate ancestors and on back down the line.
 
#54
hbarcat said:
In addition to bassybill's recommendation for the Dennet book, I recommend Shadow's of Forgotten Ancestors by Carl Sagan. Although less technically involved, he presents some very interesting insight into how our human consciousness as related to our ape cousins and also how it compares to our more distant primate ancestors and on back down the line.
Click to expand...

The Sagan book is FANTASTIC, I will have to search out the Dennet title.
 
#56
In supplement of the other two books mentioned, I'd suggest Dr Jesse Bering's "The God Instinct". It goes into some of the ideas of consciousness and documents a few studies on the matter. Like Bill said, its much too deep a topic to really get into on an internet forum. Don't let the name put you off, while its written by an athiest, it doesn't take Dawkins snooty attitude in its presentation.
 
#60
Which of these animals belongs to a biological classification group to which the other three do not?

Link Removed

The correct answer is D - the orangutan.

And NONE of them is a monkey, which kinda makes the vid linked to in the OP a load of crap (although I can see some merit in parts of it).
 

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