Total Consciousness

Chapter-1: Consciousness

Outline of Article:

• Introduction
• The fifth perplexing question of consciousness
• The sixth perplexing question of consciousness
• The seventh perplexing question of consciousness
• The eighth perplexing question of consciousness
• Summary
• Thank You

Introduction

     In the first part of this chapter, I considered consciousness as the prime mover of all beginnings. From there, I moved on to claim consciousness as an undefined term, and then I provided my approximate definition for total consciousness. And, to finish up, I provided an approximate description for other undefined terms: e-consciousness, ava-consciousness and i-consciousness.

     Continuing on, I begin the second part of this chapter on consciousness by addressing four more perplexing questions of consciousness.

The Fifth Perplexing Question of Consciousness:

Which Came First: Evolution or Consciousness?

     After approximately defining total consciousness, and its three main types or orders, I naturally turned to one critical question. Namely, which came first: evolution or consciousness?

     Without a doubt, the question of correct order, with respect to consciousness and evolution is crucial to understanding reality and the universe.

      At present, for whatever reason, the current assumption on this most foundational question of order is believed to be—without much questioning—that evolution came first.

     I adamantly disagree, dear reader. Given the nature of consciousness, and how I have described it, a more reasonable assumption is that consciousness came first—not evolution. 

     Even if the reader does not accept my definition of total-consciousness, the current understanding states that evolution is a recorded history of functional adaptations across time, space and reality.

      Consider it this way, dear reader. By most definitions, consciousness involves two principle components: awareness and connectedness to reality. Coincidently, evolution is entirely dependent on awareness of reality and of connectedness with reality in order to record and to advance adaptations within life, and within an interconnected life system.

     Not to shock the reader, but, by most definitions of evolution, evolution is a function—or function type—of consciousness. Meaning, evolution is directly dependent on consciousness. Notice, all life on Earth supports the claim that evolution is a function dependent on awareness and connectedness with everything else in reality—a function of consciousness.

5. Which came first: evolution or consciousness?

Based on the two crucial components of consciousness, evolution is a function that is dependent on consciousness. Hence, consciousness came first before evolution.

The Sixth Perplexing Question of Consciousness:

What is one approximate definition of evolution?

     Granted, most scientist and philosophers believe evolution to be a random process of useful adaptations. But, therein lays the lie. Therein lays the limiting veil over human understanding: randomness.

     Therefore, the first dogmatic belief that needs to be torn down is the dependence of evolution on randomness.

     Take a closer look at what randomness is, reader. Randomness is a description of human limits of understanding to predict. In other words, to say a process or event(s) exhibits randomness is, in truth, only giving a name to the immeasurable complexity that exists in the universe, with respect to any human mind of observation. And, most fundamental in the religion of randomness is the axiom of unguided operations.

     With all due respect: randomness is just one way of guessing, that uses mathematics and some key axioms. Being more exact, randomness is a safe way of saying “I don’t know how to predict and/or how to explain a certain event with 100% exactness, 100% of the time. So, here goes my guess, sprinkled with some math, topped off with some axioms. Enjoy.”

     In other words, to say that evolution operates in some random manner, means admitting that a complexity of the highest order exists, within the observed system, with respect to the human mind; but, it also assumes no higher order consciousness beyond the human mind, which implies unguided.

     In contrast, here are my two foundational observations about evolution thus far.

     First, evolution is not random; it is based on intentional trial and error attempts, which preserves observational data of the world. Of course, this first axiom would imply guided or some higher order consciousness far beyond any human being.

     And, second, evolution is dependent entirely on consciousness.

     As a consequence of these two foundational claims, there are two main cases that need to be considered when establishing a definition for evolution.

Case-1:

We can conclude that if consciousness existed long before evolution began, then consciousness must have existed in specific locations across the universe, namely Earth and possibly elsewhere. Furthermore, there must have been some event or events that allowed for evolution to develop from that present consciousness in the universe.

Case-2:

In a similar manner, if consciousness existed long before evolution began, then consciousness must have existed everywhere in the universe, in particular on Earth. Building up from this case further, there must have been an event or events that allowed for evolution to develop.

     Of the two cases stated, I will choose to follow case-2 as being the correct model that describes the universe before evolution took hold. Meaning that, all the characteristics that are carried out within evolution must have originated within consciousness first. Thus, exploration, growth, adaptation, memory and all intentional trial and error attempts in reality are all functions derived from consciousness.     

     At any rate, dear reader, here is my approximate solution to the sixth perplexing question of consciousness.

6. What is an approximate definition of evolution?

Evolution is the exploration, adaptation, growth and memory of intentional trial and error decisions in reality, made by some form of consciousness, which is recorded within life, for life, for all time.

     Based on this definition of evolution, it becomes clear that evolution is the solidified form of consciousness, expressed as recorded adaptations throughout time.  In other words, evolution is the growth of consciousness in reality, in our universe.

The Seventh Perplexing Question of Consciousness:

What is an approximate definition of free-will?

     Before providing an approximate definition of free-will, it is important to address some of the most troubling misconceptions of free-will.

     For instance, free-will is often mistaken as the ability to see into the future; and, to be able to make the best possible predictions about the future, across all possible futures. Not surprising, these heinous misconceptions of free-will portray this fundamental aspect of all life as being magical, imaginary and nonsensical. But, most disturbing of all, is the claim that free-will operates independently of past information. Or, that free-will operates independent of reality, of the universe.

     To clarify, free-will involves the ability to make a choice and to take action in reality, which means awareness and connectedness with reality. In greater detail, free-will involves memory, analysis of the past and, intentional trial and error decisions in the present. Moreover, in order to make any decision in reality, there must be some nonzero level of awareness of organized time, in particular with the past.  

     Notice, dear reader, an emphasis must be placed here: free-will only operates in the present by using solely the past—not the future—to make an intentional trial decision in the acting present. Therefore, using free-will does not guaranty any outcome, which means there is never a 100% guaranty of best choice of options in reality.

     Furthermore, having the ability to perceive a best possible outcome, in any future, at 100% certainty, is a contradiction to free-will and the mortal aspect of humanity. To know an event or outcome of any choice to be 100% true in the future, from the point of view of the present, violates the nature of free-will into a false view of predestination. For, if a person did have access to the precise future, then this information or awareness would negate the whole purpose of having free-will of choice, or of a need for evolution, or for that matter, life.

      Before moving on, there is one last comment about free-will that needs to be emphasized. In particular, there exists dependence of awareness and of connection with reality across past experiences or events, when describing free-will. As a consequence, free-will is a type of function that is dependent on both consciousness and evolution.

     At this point, I am now ready to state my approximate definition of free will.

7. What is an approximate definition of free-will?

Free-will is the ability of life to consciously choose to use information about the past, in order to make an intentional trial decision in the present, for the purpose of accomplishing the goal of evolution.

The Eighth Perplexing Question of Consciousness:

How does a person hinder their ability to properly apply their free-will in reality?

     Free-will is not a guaranty ability that remains unchanged throughout life span development. In other words, a person can damage their ability (intentionally or unintentionally) to properly apply their free-will. This is because free-will operates in physical reality as a result of consciousness. And, the way consciousness operates in physical reality, through human beings, is mainly through the human brain.

     For instance, consider a person’s ability to walk. If a person, through some accident, looses their legs, then, quite naturally, their ability to walk will be hindered. Also, if a person, through some accident, has their spinal cord severed and damaged beyond repair, then this too will hinder their ability to walk. In a similar manner, if a person damages their brain beyond a certain point, then this also will hinder a person’s ability to walk. And, if a person has their legs tied up and bound, from ankles up to their hips, then, surprisingly this too will hinder a person’s ability to walk.

     Clearly, the aforementioned accidents do not prove that walking does not exist: they only show that the structures that have developed through evolution, through consciousness adaptations have been damaged or restrained.

    Likewise, if a person, through some accident, damages their brain to a significant amount, then this will hinder a person’s ability to properly apply their free-will. Some damaging examples include: accidental or intentional death; a prefrontal orbital lobotomy; the use of illegal drugs (such as, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, etc …); living a pleasure centric lifestyle; removing or losing significant portions of the brain, etc.

     Furthermore, the use of certain legal drugs acts as a type of restraint on a person’s e-consciousness, such as through anesthesia. Not surprisingly, anesthesia will hinder a person’s ability to walk, to interact with the environment and to properly apply their free-will and breathing ability, to a certain extent. However, again, being under the influence of anesthesia does not prove that walking, moving one’s arms, interacting with the environment, breathing and free-will do not exist. Not at all, these abilities have only been restrained.

     At this point, I am now able to provide an approximate solution to the eighth perplexing question of consciousness.

8. How does a person hinder their ability to apply their free-will?

 A person can hinder their ability to apply their free-will, by: intentional or unintentional death; damaging significant portions of the brain; losing particular parts of the brain; chronic or acute use of illegal drugs; use of certain legal drugs, such as anesthesia; and/or, living a pleasure centric lifestyle.

Summary

     The main point to take away from this post is that consciousness came first before evolution. From this crucial perspective, the next development is that evolution can be approximated as a function of consciousness. And, lastly, that free-will can be defined as a function that is dependent on both consciousness and evolution.

Thank You

     Thank you for your attention, Dear Reader. I am grateful for your time and consideration of my ideas. Next Monday, I will post the third part of Chapter-1: Consciousness.