George Lakoff - Why is Consciousness so Baffling?

How does consciousness weave its magical web of inner awareness—appreciating music, enjoying art, feeling love? Even when all mental functions may be explained, the great mystery—what it 'feels like' inside—will likely remain. This is the 'Hard Problem' of consciousness. What could even count as a theory of consciousness, even in principle?



George P. Lakoff is an American cognitive linguist and professor of linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley.


Closer to Truth, hosted by Robert Lawrence Kuhn and directed by Peter Getzels, presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

[nisarabro]

An Excellent Program about the Nature, Universe and Human Psyche . My Best Favorite Program

[azalea]

Good old professor Lakoff. Love his books on metaphors.

[RolandHuettmann]

As a little child I thought in this box called "radio" are little people who make music. I litterally took the box apart, did not find them, and was punished. But it reminds me that searching for consciousness, we take the box apart, our brain, and do not find what we were searching for. 🥁🙄

[davidsfuntimes]

" Maybe our mental capacities don't allow us to understand those aspects of consciousness". The best answer I have heard without hubris.. We may never know our awareness!!!

[spiralsun]

Everyone should read “metaphors we live by” from George Lakoff. Been following his work for over 30 years now. This was so awesome 🤩 thanks 🙏🏻 I love you guys!!! ❤️‍🔥🙌

[continentalgin]

I really enjoyed this episode and listening to George Lakoff. Very interesting topic!

[Jeremyramone]

Currently reading about this in Carl Jung s book Man and his symbols, I highly recommend it. Thank you very much for your work in sharing these productions.

[psmith]

Fascinating. I'm completely "ignoramus" about all of this but have GREAT curiosity about it. Thank you.

[bluelotus]

Consciousness is baffling only if we look for it in the wrong place.

[penultimatename]

One thing not mentioned which I find fascinating. We are able to hear, read a story or watch a movie and know we didn't experience that event. I think even more interesting when combined with our understanding of metaphors and incomplete story telling of an event.

[Albiee]

Lakov has the right starting point from which a robust (scientific) understanding of consciousness may be kept at least possible while carrying various ideas forward

[doctorsequoia]

“From all we have learnt about the structure of living matter, we must be prepared to find it working in a manner that cannot be reduced to the ordinary laws of physics. And that not on the ground that there is any ‘new force’ or what not, directing the behavior of the single atoms within a living organism, but because the construction is different from anything we have yet tested in the physical laboratory.”

“Matter and energy seem granular in structure, and so does ‘life’, but not so mind.”

— Erwin Schrödinger

[godlikenovauniverse]

Meaningful content yes closer to the truth 💯🙏👌

[chateaumedia]

This is one of the best ideas I heard in closer to truth.

[tyamada]

My new understandings of what many call 'God' - resulting from some of the extraordinary ongoing after-effects relating to my NDE...

Myoho-Renge-Kyo represents the identity of what some scientists are now referring to as the unified field of consciousnesses. In other words, it’s the essence of all existence and non-existence – the ultimate creative force behind planets, stars, nebulae, people, animals, trees, fish, birds, and all phenomena, manifest or latent. All matter and intelligence are simply waves or ripples manifesting to and from this core source. Consciousness (enlightenment) is itself the actual creator of everything that exists now, ever existed in the past, or will exist in the future – right down to the minutest particles of dust – each being an individual ripple or wave.
The big difference between chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo and most other conventional prayers is that instead of depending on a ‘middleman’ to connect us to our state of inner enlightenment, we’re able to do it ourselves. That’s because chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo allows us to tap directly into our enlightened state by way of this self-produced sound vibration. ‘Who or What Is God?’ If we compare the concept of God being a separate entity that is forever watching down on us, to the teachings of Nichiren, it makes more sense to me that the true omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence of what most people perceive to be God, is the fantastic state of enlightenment that exists within each of us. Some say that God is an entity that’s beyond physical matter – I think that the vast amount of information continuously being conveyed via electromagnetic waves in today’s world gives us proof of how an invisible state of God could indeed exist.
For example, it’s now widely known that specific data relayed by way of electromagnetic waves has the potential to help bring about extraordinary and powerful effects – including an instant global awareness of something or a mass emotional reaction. It’s also common knowledge that these invisible waves can easily be used to detonate a bomb or to enable NASA to control the movements of a robot as far away as the Moon or Mars – none of which is possible without a receiver to decode the information that’s being transmitted. Without the receiver, the data would remain impotent. In a very similar way, we need to have our own ‘receiver’ switched on so that we can activate a clear and precise understanding of our own life, all other life and what everything else in existence is.
Chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo each day helps us to achieve this because it allows us to reach the core of our enlightenment and keep it switched on. That’s because Myoho-Renge-Kyo represents the identity of what scientists now refer to as the unified field of consciousnesses. To break it down – Myoho represents the Law of manifestation and latency (Nature) and consists of two alternating states. For example, the state of Myo is where everything in life that’s not obvious to us exists – including our stored memories when we’re not thinking about them – our hidden potential and inner emotions whenever they’re dormant – our desires, our fears, our wisdom, happiness, karma – and more importantly, our enlightenment.
The other state, ho, is where everything in Life exists whenever it becomes evident to us, such as when a thought pops up from within our memory – whenever we experience or express our emotions – or whenever a good or bad cause manifests as an effect from our karma. When anything becomes apparent, it merely means that it’s come out of the state of Myo (dormancy/latency) and into a state of ho (manifestation). It’s the difference between consciousness and unconsciousness, being awake or asleep, or knowing and not knowing.
The second law – Renge – Ren meaning cause and ge meaning effect, governs and controls the functions of Myoho – these two laws of Myoho and Renge, not only function together simultaneously but also underlies all spiritual and physical existence.
The final and third part of the tri-combination – Kyo, is the Law that allows Myoho to integrate with Renge – or vice versa. It’s the great, invisible thread of energy that fuses and connects all Life and matter – as well as the past, present and future. It’s also sometimes termed the Universal Law of Communication – perhaps it could even be compared with the string theory that many scientists now suspect exists.
Just as the cells in our body, our thoughts, feelings and everything else is continually fluctuating within us – all that exists in the world around us and beyond is also in a constant state of flux – constantly controlled by these three fundamental laws. In fact, more things are going back and forth between the two states of Myo and ho in a single moment than it would ever be possible to calculate or describe. And it doesn’t matter how big or small, famous or trivial anything or anyone may appear to be, everything that’s ever existed in the past, exists now or will exist in the future, exists only because of the workings of the Laws ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’ – the basis of the four fundamental forces, and if they didn’t function, neither we nor anything else could go on existing. That’s because all forms of existence, including the seasons, day, night, birth, death and so on, are moving forward in an ongoing flow of continuation – rhythmically reverting back and forth between the two fundamental states of Myo and ho in absolute accordance with Renge – and by way of Kyo. Even stars are dying and being reborn under the workings of what the combination ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’ represents. Nam, or Namu – which mean the same thing, are vibrational passwords or keys that allow us to reach deep into our life and fuse with or become one with ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’.
On a more personal level, nothing ever happens by chance or coincidence, it’s the causes that we’ve made in our past, or are presently making, that determine how these laws function uniquely in each of our lives – as well as the environment from moment to moment. By facing east, in harmony with the direction that the Earth is spinning, and chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo for a minimum of, let’s say, ten minutes daily to start with, any of us can experience actual proof of its positive effects in our lives – even if it only makes us feel good on the inside, there will be a definite positive effect. That’s because we’re able to pierce through the thickest layers of our karma and activate our inherent Buddha Nature (our enlightened state). By so doing, we’re then able to bring forth the wisdom and good fortune that we need to challenge, overcome and change our adverse circumstances – turn them into positive ones – or manifest and gain even greater fulfilment in our daily lives from our accumulated good karma. This also allows us to bring forth the wisdom that can free us from the ignorance and stupidity that’s preventing us from accepting and being proud of the person that we indeed are – regardless of our race, colour, gender or sexuality. We’re also able to see and understand our circumstances and the environment far more clearly, as well as attract and connect with any needed external beneficial forces and situations. As I’ve already mentioned, everything is subject to the law of Cause and Effect – the ‘actual-proof-strength’ resulting from chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo always depends on our determination, sincerity and dedication.
For example, the levels of difference could be compared to making a sound on a piano, creating a melody, producing a great song, and so on. Something else that’s very important to always respect and acknowledge is that the Law (or if you prefer God) is in everyone and everything.

NB: There are frightening and disturbing sounds, and there are tranquil and relaxing sounds. It’s the emotional result of any noise or sound that can trigger off a mood or even instantly change one. When chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo each day, we are producing a sound vibration that’s the password to our true inner-self – this soon becomes apparent when you start reassessing your views on various things – such as your fears and desires etc. The best way to get the desired result when chanting is not to view things conventionally – rather than reaching out to an external source, we need to reach into our own lives and bring our needs and desires to fruition from within – including the good fortune and strength to achieve any help that we may need. Chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo also reaches out externally and draws us towards, or draws towards us, what we need to make us happy from our environment. For example, it helps us to be in the right place at the right time – to make better choices and decisions and so forth. We need to think of it as a seed within us that we’re watering and bringing sunshine to for it to grow, blossom and bring forth fruit or flowers. It’s also important to understand that everything we need in life, including the answer to every question and the potential to achieve every dream, already exists within us.
My autobiography explaining how I, and others I've told, have used this chant to change our poisons into medicine titled: 'Saved by the Light of the Buddha Within', is now available at Amazon Books for 99cents (the lowest Amazon allowed me to price it)
To read more about Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo please read Tina Turner's new book: Happiness Becomes You -- or Google 'Let go, and let God' by Olivia Newton-John.

[transcender]

The Vedic tradition, many thousands of years ago, through the cognitions of the Vedic seers, expressed that all creation arises from the internal dynamics of a field of pure consciousness beyond time and space. The Vedas proclaim that all the laws of nature exist virtually within that transcendent reality and are referred to as Smriti (memory). As consciousness, in the process of being aware of itself, it remembers it's infinite dynamic nature within it's infinite dynamic silence. This explanation did not arise through the exercise of human intellect, but, was the result of direct experience of this ultimate reality. The Vedas are not human creations but cognitions experienced as sound...the primordial, eternal vibrations of consciousness which give rise to all manifest reality. Funnily enough....string theory posits that all elementary matter and forces are creations of infinitesimally small vibrating strings, each of which depending on it's mode of vibration, gives rise to different elementary particles. However, String Theory stops there...i.e., where do these vibrations emerge from? So, ultimately, the Vedas proclaim, as absolute consciousness expressing it's own nature and the dynamics with in it, that all that exists arises from an absolutely abstract, subjective reality which, by definition, can never be located by objective means....only through the subjective means afforded to us with a normally developed nervous system, which pure consciousness itself created. It's important to remember that our true deepest nature is absolute, unbounded pure consciousness...unbounded creative intelligence, which we have the potential to express in our thinking and activity when that nervous system functions in the way Nature intended.

[KpxUrz]

As usual on this topic: more questions than answers. In fact, there are almost no answers at all when discussing consciousness.

[Miriam-todi]

Hey Philosopher here, philosophers have been focused on consciousness for thousands of years. Will gladly share recs

[NothingMaster]

Because we ultimately don’t know what it is exactly that we are conscious of.

[charlie-kmet]

Consciousness is an idea. It exists in our minds and in the language we use to describe “it” to communicate about “it”.

What is “it”. It is a compilation of different “things”. Just like we call the universe the universe we still don’t know what “it” is. We can observe it and experience it like we experience consciousness but summing it up in one word or one sentence to explain it simply may not be possibly.

Discovery and exploration is important.

It’s the sum of many parts and processes for one purpose. Survival.