| IntroductionThe question of what our consciousness is, | | | | astonishment, or the brows are heavily contracted. |
| or how or where it is produced, has been the subject | | | | Perspiration bathes the body, and drops trickle down |
| of much philosophical inquiry over the past centuries. | | | | the face. The circulation and respiration are much |
| Some have relied upon spiritual conclusions, claiming | | | | affected. Hence the nostrils are generally dilated and |
| that consciousness is one's soul (though today, the | | | | often quiver; or the breath may be held until the blood |
| term "soul" often means one's emotional individuality). | | | | stagnates in the purple face. If the agony be severe |
| There are different claims across ancient civilization, | | | | and prolonged, these signs all change; utter prostration |
| offering the idea that the soul exists in a physical part | | | | follows, with fainting or convulsions." [The Expression |
| of the body, be it the head, the heart, or the genitals. | | | | of the Emotions in Man and Animals, by Charles |
| However, with the rise of science, there is a new | | | | Darwin, chapter 3.]Consciousness: What I Do Not |
| approach to the question of consciousness. The | | | | Know...As far as various philosophical thoughts go, I |
| importance given to consciousness varies sometimes | | | | have often been hesitant to publish thoughts without |
| from individual to individual, from school of thought to | | | | first finding a conclusion (one, of course, based on |
| school of thought. Some philosophers simply marvel at | | | | evidence and Reason). However, as much as I thought |
| the complexity of the thing, sometimes almost | | | | on the topic of consciousness, the more I think the |
| reflectively. Just as some philosophers regard it as a | | | | more I become convinced that only science, |
| spectular thing that requires explanation, some | | | | demonstration, and observation, could discover the |
| philosophers regard the question of consciousness as | | | | answers to my questions. The following is an inquiry |
| an important underyling factor in their entire | | | | concerning consciousness...Our brains, like all other |
| philosophy.For example, as a Vegetarian, I do not | | | | physical things, is composed of matter. In this sense, it |
| actively engage in any activity which causes suffering | | | | is composed of different atoms, such as Carbon and |
| or unwanted death to a conscious being. Naturally, | | | | Nitrogen, interlocking to form structures. The structures |
| since I have this philosophical concept of rights, I want | | | | of the brain give it the capability of consciousness. The |
| to understand this scientific concept of consciousness. | | | | question I am presenting is not how consciousness can |
| Sometimes I am asked whether I would regard the | | | | arrise from basic elements, but how reliant upon the |
| rights of a plant, bacteria, or an insect. To these three | | | | molecules consciousness is. The Atomic Theory can |
| organisms, I have no difficulty answering. A plant and | | | | be defined as follows: the theory that all matter is |
| bacteria do not contain a consciousness, whereas | | | | composed of atoms, and that all atoms are composed |
| evidence suggest that insects have a sort of | | | | of simple structures, including protons. All protons are |
| consciousness. But whether or not I am right or wrong | | | | incredibly similar in structure, and an atom's individual is |
| in such a response, I will always say, "I regard the rights | | | | defined by the number of protons it has. A Hydrogen |
| of conscious beings. None others." If they inquire into | | | | atom, for example, has 1 proton. A Helium atom differs |
| which organsms are conscious and if I do not know, I | | | | from a Hydrogen atom in that it has 2 protons. Carbon |
| respond that the question of consciousness is one of | | | | has 4 protons. Iron has 77 protons. Gold has 79 |
| science, not one of philosophy. As far as how | | | | protons. Silver has 47 protons. Uranium has 92 protons. |
| consciousness works, I do not know. I only hope to | | | | The difference between these elements differs in |
| provide questions that I have thought of endlessly, with | | | | protons, and a proton changes other factors. For each |
| no conclusion. To quote Scientific American about a | | | | proton, there is a neutron. For each proton, there is an |
| story of Neuroscientists..."Koch, 44, directs the | | | | attraction to another electron. One gold atom, though, |
| computation and neural systems program at Caltech. | | | | will react the same as any other gold atom, as long as |
| He arrived here in 1986, a time when consciousness | | | | conditions are the same.Describing the Atomic Theroy |
| research was still considered career suicide even for | | | | is only a preliminary to the question of consciousness. |
| established brain researchers. But high-profile attention | | | | Since one Carbon atom reacts the same as any other |
| to the subject by Nobelists Gerald M. Edelman and | | | | Carbon atom, what would happen if a Carbon atom in |
| Francis Crick, coupled with advances in functional brain | | | | someone's brain was quickly replaced with a different |
| imaging, has elevated the field--and its investigators--to | | | | Carbon atom? Since all Carbon atoms react the same, |
| respectability."Neurobiologists have since given up the | | | | the consciousness of the person would not be altered. |
| notion that Koch may be dangerously offbeat, despite | | | | This would mean that their thoughts, their ideas, their |
| his having tattooed his arm last summer with the Apple | | | | emotions, their memories, and their personality would |
| Computer logo to demonstrate his love of the | | | | not change. Talking to them would not be like talking to |
| Macintosh (a zeal not even matched by Steve Jobs). | | | | an entirely different person. No change would be |
| The neuroscientist leads about 20 researchers and | | | | noticeable. But, what did change? It was only one |
| calls their mission to explain consciousness 'one of the | | | | solitary atom. Still, the organ which produces conscious |
| major unsolved problems of modern science.'" | | | | has one part different.It is important to understand the |
| [Scientific American, July, 2001.]Consciousness | | | | different consciousnesses when examining this. I do |
| According to Science...Brain..."All thoughts, emotions, | | | | not mean the many different consciousnesses within a |
| sensations, movements, and desires have their origins | | | | single person, but with many people. For example, if |
| in brain processes. Without a functioning brain, the | | | | one person's brain was entirely reconstructed to be |
| human being is reduced to a vegetative state, unable | | | | identical, both people would be different entities. The |
| to perform any actions or pessos any feelings, and left | | | | first person thinks for themself, just like the second |
| without he ability even to alter bodily function in | | | | person. But, importantly, they are different beings. The |
| rseponse to change. While this article will consider the | | | | first is the first and the second is the second. If one |
| human brain, which is more complex and highly | | | | were to have a thought, it would not give that thought |
| developed than that of any other animal, the brains of | | | | to the other. By claiming that each brain is its own |
| all mammels, and indeed most vertebrates, are | | | | entity, I mean that each is composed of its own matter |
| remarkably similar."The central nervous system is | | | | and produces its own consciousness. When we alter |
| composed of the brain and the spinal cord. The nerves | | | | one Carbon atom, by switching it with another, we are |
| that supply the rest of the body are attached to the | | | | changing the matter of the brain, though the design |
| brain and sinal cord and include the motor nerves, | | | | remains changeless. The one atom changed. Would |
| which activate muscels, and the sensory nerves, which | | | | that mean a different consciousness is produced? |
| bring information into the central nervous system. In | | | | When I speak of a difference, I speak of entity. Would |
| addition, the nerves that supply the internal organs are | | | | the consciousness change from the state it had |
| found outside the brain and spinal cord." [Collier's | | | | before the new Carbon atom to the state after it had |
| Encyclopedia, under "Brain."]Morality..."Many animals, | | | | the new Carbon atom, this change being the same |
| however, certainly sympathise with each other's | | | | difference between the entity of consciousness |
| distress or danger. This is the case even with birds. | | | | existing between two different persons? WHat would |
| Captain Stansbury found on a salt lake in Utah an old | | | | happen if we replaced every atom in the brain with a |
| and completely blind pelican, which was very fat, and | | | | new identical one? It would be a new existing |
| must have been well fed for a long time by his | | | | consciousness, just acting the same, believeng the |
| companions. Mr. Blyth, as he informs me, saw Indian | | | | same, doing the same. The consciousness acts the |
| crows feeding two or three of their companions which | | | | same, but it differes as an entity. You can have two |
| were blind; and I have heard of an analogous case | | | | identical shoes, for example, but they are difefrent in |
| with the domestic cock. We may, if we choose, call | | | | that they are not made out of the same exact matter. |
| these actions instinctive; but such cases are much too | | | | The same question exists with the brain and |
| rare for the development of any special instinct. I have | | | | consciousness. The brain, an organ made of matter, |
| myself seen a dog, who never passed a cat who lay | | | | produces the consciousness, but if the brain is altered |
| sick in a basket, and was a great friend of his, without | | | | by one identical atom, is consciousness different in |
| giving her a few licks with his tongue, the surest sign of | | | | entity?ConclusionsI have tried my best to offer a |
| kind feeling in a dog." [The Descent of Man, by Charles | | | | simple, understandable simplification of my ideas on this |
| Darwin, chapter 4, part I.]Pain and Suffering..."When | | | | subject. Perhaps, though, my thinking of the question of |
| animals suffer from an agony of pain, they generally | | | | consciousness is diluted by the idea that it is special, or |
| writhe about with frightful contortions; and those which | | | | perhaps it is impossible to make such thoughts |
| habitually use their voices utter piercing cries or groans. | | | | accurately given what little we know of it, given the |
| Almost every muscle of the body is brought into | | | | poor knowledge obtained by science. Whatever the |
| strong action. With man the mouth may be closely | | | | case may be, consciousness is consciousness, and I |
| compressed, or more commonly the lips are retracted, | | | | have offered my questions and thoughts on it. |
| with the teeth clenched or ground together. There is | | | | Life,Punkerslut (or Andy Carloff) has been writing |
| said to be "gnashing of teeth" in hell; and I have plainly | | | | essays and poetry on social issues which have caught |
| heard the grinding of the molar teeth of a cow which | | | | his attention for several years. His website provides a |
| was suffering acutely from inflammation of the bowels. | | | | complete list of all of these writings. His life experience |
| The female hippopotamus in the Zoological Gardens, | | | | includes homelessness, squating in New Orleans and |
| when she produced her young, suffered greatly; she | | | | LA, dropping out of high school, getting expelled from |
| incessantly walked about, or rolled on her sides, | | | | college for "subversive activities," and a myriad of |
| opening and closing her jaws, and clattering her teeth | | | | other revolutionary actions. |
| together. With man the eyes stare wildly as in horrified | | | | |