Understanding the Challenge of Consciousness

I recently came across an intriguing article in The Guardian that discusses the ongoing challenges faced by scientists and philosophers in comprehending consciousness. The article traces the historical context of this quest and examines various theories, ranging from materialism—which denies the existence of consciousness—to panpsychism, which posits that consciousness is the essence of everything. Inspired by this reading, I felt compelled to reach out to my favorite philosopher, David Chalmers, who is prominently featured in the article. He has famously termed the difficulty in grasping the “I am” facet of consciousness as The Hard Problem.

Chalmers introduces the thought experiment of a "philosophical zombie." This isn’t a decomposing cadaver that walks among us; rather, it’s a hypothetical being that functions like a human but lacks self-awareness and subjective experience. This is how my email began:

Hey David,

I've been contemplating consciousness for quite some time.

Did you know that actual “zombies,” as you describe them, exist in the world?

Their insights on consciousness are quite revealing.

The assertion is that our perception of being distinct individuals—an elaborate trick played by our brains—obscures the fundamental essence of reality. This essence is often referred to as nonduality, an indescribable state devoid of separation. The illusion of self creates the perception of a subject that contrasts with everything else as mere objects. This self-illusion is a fragile psychosomatic misunderstanding that emerges in sufficiently complex cognitive systems, like humans. It fails to grasp the entirety of reality and, in its quest for completeness, ironically seeks its own dissolution, ultimately revealing that only wholeness exists.

Awareness and consciousness represent different dimensions of this self-illusion. The misleading notion is that something exists here, aware of something there. The false assertion is that there is something tangible here; this represents the “I am” fallacy. Everything is merely an illusion. The body and mind operate independently, and then the self-illusion claims, “I did that” or “that pertains to me.”

This perspective diverges from Daniel Dennett's views; it does not align with strict materialism nor with panpsychism. After experiencing glimpses of nonduality, I initially believed that “consciousness” was the ultimate reality. However, I now understand that the nonduality which emerges when the self-illusion dissipates is not conscious or aware. When the self-illusion re-emerges, it misinterprets the memory of nonduality as a personal experience, thus equating it with consciousness: “Since there is only that, I must be that.” In truth, the concept of “I” is entirely absent. There is no “I am” whatsoever. What appears to occur is simply nonduality presenting itself in a particular manner, yet to no one.

There are, indeed, individuals today who experience no sense of self or separation. They describe what unfolds as nonduality manifesting effortlessly and unconditionally, asserting that there is no inherent meaning or purpose beyond the experience itself, nor is there a singular entity in control. Nonduality—this fundamental nature of reality—is ultimately beyond comprehension or knowledge, even if it is undeniably revealed to no one.

The difficulty humanity faces in grasping consciousness stems from the fact that it is an illusion, and the entity attempting to understand it is the illusion itself. The illusions of separation, self, consciousness, and awareness—all aspects of the same mirage—are merely nonduality presenting itself as these illusions.

Naturally, this viewpoint may not resonate with everyone.

I would love to discuss this further with you if you're open to it.

Best,

Duncan

Reference: Article by Oliver Burkeman in The Guardian: Why can’t the world’s greatest minds solve the mystery of consciousness?

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Chapter 2: Engaging with The Hard Problem

The first video titled "The Meta-Problem of Consciousness with David Chalmers" delves into the complexities surrounding the understanding of consciousness, as explored by Chalmers himself.

The second video titled "Hard Problem of Consciousness — David Chalmers" further investigates the nuances of the hard problem, elaborating on the philosophical implications and challenges involved.