Phoebus: Consciousness — Consciousness In a previous post I talked about dissipative systems, a subject which would appear to have nothing to do with consciousness. There is, I believe, a vital connection between the two, which I tried to make clear. I will try harder this time around. I can do no better, perhaps, than to quote Mr. Dissipative Systems himself, Ilya Prigonone, a Nobel winner and a life-long student…

Phoebus: Consciousness — Consciousness When it is apple blossom time in West Orange, New Jersey and we are having a peach of a time, we are likely to proclaim that life is a bowl of cherries. Many more of us are likely to agree that life or living things are a homeostatic system, one constantly adapting to internal and environmental changes in order to maintain a healthy and energetic equilibrium or stasis…

Phoebus: Consciousness — Consciousness & Evolution Let me make it clear. I do not deny evolution. My quarrel is with the mechanism proposed by Darwin, namely that the wheels and levers of random mutation and natural selection can, over time, originate and adapt species. This description ignores the role of Consciousness in evolution. Consciousness not only plays a role in evolution, it MUST play a role. …

Phoebus: Consciousness — Consciousness and the Brain There have been a lot of 'brain' books published lately, evidence of a rush to propose solutions to one of the few remaining 'problems' in science, namely consciousness. Like the Theory of Everything, a theory of consciousness is proving elusive. It seems there is a lot 'we don't know yet.' Nevertheless, it seems 'we' must plunge on. If God were…

Phoebus: Consciousness — On Intelligent Design Those who are opposed to the theory of Intelligent Design (so-called 'Creationism by the back door') and who would insulate tender minds from the pernicious influence of this diabolical idea by banning its mention in the schools, have obviously benefited from a sanitized education themselves and consequently missed making an acquaintance with the meditative writings of such…

Ellie33: Defining a Christian Scientist — I haven't read through all the essays on this website, so hope this hasn't been entirely covered. In any case, I had some thoughts this morning and wondered what anyone might have to say. I was raised in a CS home. My parents were and are wonderful and loving people. I no longer belong to the church, nor do my parents. When people ask me what religion I am/was, I tell them about CS. There is…