Philosophy: The Nature of Consciousness

TheSkeptic has agreed to defend consciousness as the "mere function of a single nervous system." I will be contending that and argue instead that consciousness is "of the totality of interrelated stars and galaxies that make a nervous system possible." I accept my opponent's premise of monistic physicalism and will construct my argument under that assumption. ============== Meaning of the Quote ============== It appears that my opponent is either attacking a strawman or misunderstood the quote. He says: "I propose given our understanding of how our brain works, and of the insignificant effect heavenly bodies has on our own nature, Geo's position is far from just being wrong - it's absurd." Alan Watts never suggested that heavenly bodies have an effect on our nature in a sort of astrological sense. Notice in the quote he says "TOTALITY of interrelated stars and galaxies," meaning "the Universe." He is implying that the Universe gives rise to consciousness rather than the mere function of a nervous system. Alan Watts elaborates on the matter which further clarifies his position: Quote: We do not come into into this world; we come out of it, as leaves from a tree. As the ocean "waves," the Universe "peoples." Every individual is an expression of the whole realm of nature, *a unique action of the total Universe.* - Alan Watts As you can see, this has nothing to do with heavenly bodies affecting our own nature. ====================== The Universe Yields Consciousness ====================== Pro agrees with and defends the assertion that consciousness is the *mere* function of a nervous system. However, if we were merely just the function of a single nervous system, then we would be able to function *without* our environment. Of course, it is self evident that everything in our entire nature, including consciousness, relies on the environment, not just as an external experience, but as an integral part of our very being. To assert that consciousness is the mere function of our brains is to imply that consciousness is of an isolated nervous system only, and thus ignoring the unity of conscious beings and the environment which gives rise to such consciousness. Let's put it this way. Apples grow from trees. If you remove the apple from the tree, it will rot. A flower grows from the earth. If you remove it from the ground, it will die. This same analogy applies to us (as conscious beings) and our environment, more so in fact, a direct correlation than an analogy. We and the environment are dependent on each other directly. We could not live or survive without the food and energy provided by the environment or go one day without the light provided by the sun. We are just as dependent on our environment as the flower and the apple. So let me reiterate what Alan Watts said: "Every individual is an expression of the whole realm of nature, a unique action of the total Universe." Consciousness arises out of nature, not our brains. ======================== Support from Scientists / Philosophers ======================== I will list some quotes from scientist and philosopher Carl Sagan and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson that support my position. (Please note that this is not an appeal to authority if the referenced people are specialized in this area.) "We've begun at last, to wonder about our origins. Star stuff contemplating the stars." - Carl Sagan "The exploration of the cosmos is a voyage of self discovery." - Carl Sagan "We are all connected; To each other, biologically To the earth, chemically To the rest of the universe atomically" - Neil deGrasse Tyson "The molecules in my body are traceable to phenomena in the cosmos!" - Neil deGrasse Tyson "The cosmos is also within us. We're made of star stuff. We are a way for the cosmos to know itself." - Carl Sagan ======= Conclusion ======= My opponent has yet to demonstrate that consciousness is the mere function of a nervous system. I have effectively demonstrated that the Universe yields consciousness as suggested by the quote: "consciousness is of the totality of interrelated stars and galaxies." I await my opponent's response.