The Problems of Consciousness | Within Reason #47

- VIDEO NOTES

Josh Rasmussen is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Azusa Pacific University, with an expertise in analytic metaphysics. He is author of several books, including "Defending the Correspondence Theory of Truth", "Necessary Existence", "How Reason Can Lead to God", and "Is God the Best Explanation of Things?" . He is also the founder of the Worldview Design YouTube channel, which helps people use reason to address the big questions of life.

- LINKS

Josh's YouTube channel: @WorldviewDesignChannel

- TIMESTAMPS

0:00 What is so special about consciousness?
3:34 Can science investigate consciousness?
10:34 Is all knowledge circular?
17:22 Is introspection one of our “senses”?
22:18 Consciousness’ mysterious connection to the brain
30:50 Is the universe “mind-first”?
43:19 The hard problem of consciousness
49:32 The problem of “causal exclusion”
58:37 Can consciousness emerge from the material?
1:12:33 How does consciousness combine into one mind?
1:21:01 The “counting problem” for consciousness
1:28:45 Outro

- SPECIAL THANKS

As always, I would like to direct extra gratitude to my top-tier patrons:

John Early
Dmitry C.
Mouthy Buddha
Solaf

- CONNECT

SOCIAL LINKS:

Snapchat: cosmicskeptic

- CONTACT

Or send me something:

Alex O'Connor
Po Box 1610
OXFORD
OX4 9LL
ENGLAND

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[Theactivepsychos]

Straight in. No highlight, teaser, intro or run through what’s covered. Love it.

[theautodidacticlayman]

This is an awesome conversation!! Can we please have a sequel to go over the remaining problems?? 🤩

[marcsmith]

Good stuff Alex and I must say, this is one of the best podcasts to Watch in terms of quality of the video, nice 4k24p brilliant to watch!

[ucantstopme]

I know what these guys are discussing is deep/complicated/fun/etc., but sometimes I can't help but smile a little with they discuss (a) being aware that we're aware of being aware that we're aware, and (b) using plastic whimsy kid toys to thought-"build"/"combine" into a conscious being. I love YouTube.

[Mohsin__Khan]

As a psychologist, this conversation made me think a lot about Dissociative Identity Disorder. Awesome conversation ❤

[jayanderson]

If you have ever tried to meditate you will gain greater insight into your conscienceness because the locus of your attention is so difficult to control. Stopping sensory input and thoughts from emerging is a revealing exercise. We are hardwired to have thoughts and images emerge from the brain and it is relentless probably from darwinian survival.

[madokaonline]

Thank you for being here, both of you. Was a great watch.

[goodquestion]

@cosmicskeptic About Consciousness studying and understanding Consciousness. You can break down someone else's Consciousness into parts and study the pieces one at a time. That method has worked wonderfully for everything we currently understand, so far. Of course that requires the avoidance of any harm. That's why we use fMRI, tests, and statistics; and regretfully, when someone has suffered an accident or sickness we pay attention to the effects.
I'm sure you know all that, just clarifying for other readers.

[jackjones]

Really good conversation. Josh Rasmussen certainly seems to know his stuff.

[Jcangel]

You should get David Bentley Hart on the podcast to talk about consciousness

[gabehesch]

The books “Incomplete Nature, ” “I am a Strange Loop, ” and “Gödel, Escher, Bach” - the last two by Douglas Hoffstadter- attempt to describe consciousness by the attempts of the brain trying to be aware of itself…as something that attempts to be aware if itself…

Basically exactly what Alex was saying at around the 15 minute block.

[Knytz]

The theme of this video alows us to understand this, and to also talk about its negative consequences. Amazing

[jjkthebest]

I feel like there's always the implicit assumption that consciousness is something separate in the first place and people don't stop to think whether that's actually true.

[MrGustavier]

52:15 _" If the Mindless bits of reality are pulling the strings and all of your thoughts and feelings then how can an intention to raise your hand make a difference to the world if everything that happens is fundamentally explained in terms of the physics"_

If material is first, it doesn't mean that the mental isn't material right ? So _"mindless bits"_ become mental objects right ? So you _"intention to raise your hand"_ is simply the name you give to your first person experience of a bunch of material bits that are also mental... Your first person experience of a mental object (your _"intention to raise your hand")_ which is made of material bits.

[glenrotchin]

Saying that you are aware of being aware, is like saying that I’m thinking about thinking. It offers no value. It requires some further inquiry like ‘why’ you are thinking or ‘what’ you’re thinking. or ‘how’ you are thinking all of which provide some particular aspect and direction of inquiry.

[sheepschaf]

Dear Alex O'Connor, awesome video, as always <3

My biggest christmas present would be a discussion between you and Joscha Bach regarding conciousness. That'd be epic!

[TheOneMaddin]

Good conversation. I am a mathematician with an inclination to philosophy of maths, and when you guys started talking about infinities, it was not only mathematically nonsense (Alex looking at you), but philosophically very dubious to apply this to something like thought. We are finite beings and our thoughts are certainly finite, and it is very hard to imagine how using infinities has any justification or explanatory value here.

[SeldonnHari]

58:08 through a myological limbs, I believe that it would be hard to define the mind as a single thing. GCP gray did an excellent video on how different parts of our brain contain different personalities that work in concordance and opposition to each other

[JustsomeSteve]

8:42,
I suffer from Depersonalization & Derealization.

And it's like your window got way thicker and dirty, so now you notice that window all the time and it's disturbing.

Especially if you have 24/7 over decades.

You can't really concentrate on stuff behind the window because the window itself is so distracting now. Plus everything you see through the window looks strange and unfamiliar.

All I hope is that one day I get a new window, so I can enjoy the things behind the window again, instead of being so dissociated from everything, with the window I have since now 2009.

PS: Sorry for spelling errors. English ist not my first language. Greetings Steve

[veridicusmind]

There is no Josh Rasmussen video without him picking up some random object and ask whether it is conscious!