34565Y128 In contrast, 'anger' isn't an abstract ~
Q&@
TERM WE HAVE DECIDED TO USE AS A SHORTHAND FOR BILLIONS OF ELECTRIC BRAIN SIGNALS.
ANGER IS AN EXTREMELY CONCRETE EXPERIENCE WHICH PEOPLE WERE FAMILIAR WITH LONG BEFORE
THEY KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT ELECTRICITY. WHEN I SAY, 'I AM ANGRY!' I AM POINTING TO A VERY TANGIBLE
FEELING. IF YOU DESCRIBE HOW A CHEMICAL REACTION IN A NEURON RESULTS IN AN ELECTRIC SIGNAL, AND
HOW BILLIONS OF SIMILAR REACTIONS RESULT IN BILLIONS OF ADDITIONAL SIGNALS, IT IS STILL WORTHWHILE
TO ASK, 'But how dó these billions of events come together to create my concrete feeling of anger?'
When thousands of cars slowly edge their way through London, we call it a traffic jam, but it doesn't create some great Londonian consciousness that hovers high above Piccadilly and says to itself, 'BLIMEY, I FEEL JAMMED!' When millions of people sell billions of shares, we call it an economic crisis, but no Great Wall Street Spirit grumbles, 'SHIT, I FEEL I AM IN A CRISIS?'! Ànd when trillions
of water molecules coalesce in the sky we call thàt a cloud, but no cloud consciousness emerges to announce, 'I FEEL RAINY!' How
is it, then, that when billions of electric signals move around in my brain, a mind emerges that feels 'I AM FURIOUS!'? As of 2016,
we have absolutely no idea. Hence if this discussion has left you confused and perplexed, you are in very good company!
The best scientists too are a long way from deciphering the enigma of mind and consciousness.
One of the wonderful things about science is that when scientists don't know something,
they can try out all kinds of theories and conjunctures,
but in the end they can just admit their ignorance.
Asih, man, 79 jaar
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