chemical conscience

[perkeyone]

in the 8th grade i had a chemistry/physical science teacher who told us (the class) about how every thing in the universe was related to chemistry . one of the students in my class, who was quite intelligent and seemingly upset by this, asked if her thoughts and feelings were only chemical reactions in her brain. it seemed to me that the teacher thought this was a silly question. he said of course they are. she asked if there was such a thing as freewill if all her thoughts and feelings were merely chemical reactions. i didnt think much of it (this event) for the past 4 years but the memory of it came back to me and i thought i would share it with you all and get your opinions.

i looked at this a bit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consciousness

[JustAGiggalo]

Re: chemical conscience

Chemistry and physics can pretty much explain all the physical phenomena observed in the world; however, thought and emotions and how they originate are still highly debated topics. There are things that which science cannot provide answers.

[devonin]

Re: chemical conscience

Well, things which science cannot provide answers to that we like the sound of, anyway.

[perkeyone]

Re: chemical conscience

Well, things which science cannot provide answers to that we like the sound of, anyway.

very well put
she seemed a bit depressed at the thought
i however am fascinated by it
i would love to know how it all works (the brain/thoughts)

although i dont disbelieve (or, with grammar, believe) that thoughts feelings and decisions are chemical, i am unable to comprehend the complexity of it all. i cant imagine a reaction taking place that would drive me to type all this out (for instance).

[devonin]

Re: chemical conscience

I like how we're perfectly happy to conclude that -incredibly- complex behaviors in plants and animals are simply the function of biology and chemistry, but as soon as we look at our own complex behaviors, there has to be something extra and special to explain it.

[perkeyone]

Re: chemical conscience

I like how we're perfectly happy to conclude that -incredibly- complex behaviors in plants and animals are simply the function of biology and chemistry, but as soon as we look at our own complex behaviors, there has to be something extra and special to explain it.

no its nothing special, but it just seems odd that there would be a reaction (or series of reactions) that would cause me to want to know what other people think about consious thoughts and how they occur and to type to you on this forum.

[devonin]

Re: chemical conscience

It seems no less odd to me than a reaction (or series of reactions) that enables me to run at a dead sprint without falling over.

[perkeyone]

Re: chemical conscience

what i mean is that the reaction seems to be self aware in that it causes me to question the existence of it (or itself)

[devonin]

Re: chemical conscience

But without introspective access into other minds (which we don't, and theoretically can't ever have) we don't even know what else besides us, let alone what humans besides us are capable of self-reflexive thought in that way.

I mean, reasonable observation and evidence sets the bounds on intelligence and sentience, but we can't actually know with current technology.

[Kilroy_x]

Re: chemical conscience

The mirror test is a pretty reasonable standard.