Stuart Hammerof - Does Human Consciousness Have Special Purpose?

Scientists say our consciousness is the product of our brains, with purposes set by evolutionary fitness. Theologians believe our consciousness reflects the God who created it, with majestic purpose of eternal life. Mystics hold my consciousness is a drop in the ocean of cosmic consciousness, with cycles and return. For sure, consciousness is a test case.



Stuart Hameroff, MD, is a physician and researcher at the University Medical Center at the University of Arizona.


Closer to Truth 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.

[soubhikmukherjee]

I tend not to call myself a materialist. Because we don't even know what the term matter means- Roger Penrose.

[alejandrocurado]

It'd be nice if the interviewer let him talk without constant interruption

[bozo]

Thumbs up for Kuhn pushing back a little.

[SandipChitale]

It should be noted that when we use words like consciousness or purpose we have a common sense, colloquial understanding of what we mean. However, to discuss the topic philosophically it probably will help to atleast give a brief definition/scope of the terms being discussed.

The word like consciousness encompasses such a large spectrum of phenomenon when looked at it closely a totally different discussions can be had about different ends of the spectrum. For example response to a stimuli is sometimes called consciousness as in is the injured person conscious. Or self awareness, thinking of abstract thought and reporting of internal self awareness state are other end of the way consciousness is used.

Same is true for the word purpose. It sometimes means reason or cause and in some other time means active, intentional planning and execution towards a goal. I think Robert is using the word in the later sense of the word in the question above.

[ik]

I like Hammerof's theory/philosophy/religion

[haydenspence]

It does but the more educated you are the less likely you are to realise it.education through university's puts the mind in a box.your told what is and what isn't which in most cases is ok because its proven fact.however your also told what is and what isn't when it comes to matters uproven as of yet, which to be honest is kinda arrogant.

[somethingyousaid]

Human beings demonstrate that consciousness and sentience are attributes that they can only be all the worse for.

[amiralozse]

“We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.”
Carl Sagan

[SandipChitale]

Consciousness does not have purpose the way we use the word colloquially. It resulted from increased complexity of organisms over long long periods of time of evolutionary process. It had survival advantages and thus became ubiquitous in later species. So in that sense the consciousness had/has passive purpose to make the possessors survive better. However it should be noted that consciousness if it is meant to be used as alternate for "living" then that type of consciousness has been there when life started and has been useful to the "living" to make more "living" out of non-living environment.
The "purpose" with intended meaning in the question i.e. active, intentional planning and execution towards a goal, is something that conscious entities do. Meaning, "purpose" is something consciousness makes possible, not the other way around, as it is asked in the question. IMO it is more correct to say consciousness makess "purpose" possible.

The purpose, as in "purpose" of Human's life, is what they make it to be. The human consciousness makes it possible to even think of having such a human purpose.

[jaincognito]

Why those who insist human counsiousness has a special meaning (soul?) at the same time refuse to acknowledge counsiousness of other living creatures on this planet and tend to treat them just like things? It seems illogical.

[taidelek]

Meditate, the closest path to know consciousness.

[cps_Zen_Run]

Another example of attaching the word "quantum “ to a term, and many rush to drink the Kool-aid.

[isaaccardin]

Its odd how so many "scientists" are so ready to laugh in the face of the idea that consciousness actually matters to the universe and that humans might actually have some kind significance beyond technological advancement.

[bernardcohen]

I never though of myself as a smart person but this is what I’ve always believed

[Jalcolm]

A mash-up. It seems to me that the point of identifying platonic entities such as math, ethics etc. is that they are not IN the universe. Their origin does not require a universe. They just ARE, independently of the universe. The universe can eat its heart out, a priori entities don’t need no universe.

[Esch_atton]

At least he's asking the right questions instead of saying well, 🤷 guess we'll never know, like most people who talk about consciousness.

[BJtheMountaineerguy]

How could an unconscious Universe create consciousness? I believe consciousness is created from a conscious creator there is no other explanation for it..

[soubhikmukherjee]

I've tried to find myself and I've only found the universe. I've tried to find the universe and I've only found myself- Rumi.

[ThePineTreesBand]

I want what he's saying to be true. But it honestly just seems like the half understood barely remembered attempt to Describe a book you read a few months ago. Or like a religion that just sounded good to the dude so he accepted it as true.

[mediocrates]

Orchestrated! Where's the wave? Where is the *electrotonic* wave!??