Guest Post by Gareth Michael
The true meaning of consciousness boggles the minds of many. No other animal seems to be aware of its own existence. Why do humans seem to be the only ones?
In this article, we will go over the meaning of self-consciousness. We will explore conscious awareness, conscious experience, and theories of consciousness in an attempt to answer the question, “what is the meaning of consciousness?”
So are you wide awake and ready to learn about your conscious mind? Let’s go!
What is Consciousness?
Human consciousness is a multifaceted subject that draws on different scientific and philosophical elements. The word consciousness refers to the state of being aware and responsive to surroundings. It is the state found in regular waking life.
Beyond a general sense of awareness, there’s a general problem of consciousness. People can’t seem to agree on what it is. Philosophers such as René Descartes argued that consciousness existed only in the brain. However, this does not account for the mind-body problem.
Christof Koch believes that consciousness is experienced in the brain and body. The stream of consciousness meaning is an integration of the thoughts in your head and the sensation in your body. While Koch can sound a bit esoteric in his “minds bodies” approach, current brain sciences back him up.
States of Consciousness
What’s so fascinating about the mind is the various states of consciousness. Meaning there are different levels and you can alter how you or someone else thinks and perceives the world. You’re probably already familiar with a few of them.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is the state of consciousness in which an individual or a group allows the suggestion of another to influence their experience. This was first introduced by Doctor Franz Mesmer, who used it in the days before anesthesia. He used the process of “mesmerism” to keep patients calm as they underwent surgery. Truly remarkable stuff.
Dreams
Dreams are incredible because they can simulate waking life with such realism. There are many theories as to why we have dreams both scientific and spiritual. You can find symbolism and meaning across the web to interpret why you may dream of someone or something specifically.
Flow-state
Another form of altered consciousness is the flow state. Artists and athletes tend to describe this as being “in the zone.” It’s when all thoughts clear the mind and you become solely focused on the activity you are doing. Time and reality fall away and art ensues.
Psychoactive-Induced States
There are many natural states of altered consciousness humans can achieve. In addition, humans are known to seek out altered states from psychoactive plants. From the energetic boost you get from caffeine to some of the more exotic plants used to make ayahuasca, humans have been known to utilize altered states throughout history.
Spiritual Theories of Consciousness
Global Workspace Theory
Global Workspace Theory, or GWT, is a lot like the concept of working memory. These are both cognitive architectures. They explain how people do both conscious and unconscious actions at the same time.
Your consciousness sends on a lot of unconscious processes. For example, you would not survive for long if you had to remember to breathe. Your brain puts together a lot of information from many unconscious processes
Integrated Information Theory
IIT states that consciousness is emergent. That means it comes from or “emerges” from complex brain behaviour. The theory attempts to find the essential properties of consciousness. It also attempts the measure of thought complexity needed to attain consciousness.
Christof Koch describes the theory as a sort of “phenomenology” or a “study of how things appear.” He supports this theory with complex mathematics. Recent research conducted on anaesthesia patients also seems to support the theory.
Get Conscious!
If you’re interested in fully cultivating your consciousness, reach out to a specialist in all things conscious. There will be no topic too esoteric for them to tackle.
About the author:
Gareth Michael is a spiritual coach, teacher, channel of Michael, and author of the best-selling book Ever-changing Perspectives. He provides tangible, practical spiritual support stemming from his own life lessons and Michael’s profound wisdom and teachings. His personalized guidance helps people heal, find their spiritual direction, and understand their purpose.
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