Colin McGinn - Why Explore Cosmos and Consciousness?

Cosmos and consciousness seem utterly different, cosmos encompassing the vast universe, consciousness emerging from tiny brains. Yet consciousness is the basis of religion, and some cosmologists speak quietly, profoundly, about consciousness. A few scientists and philosophers claim that, even without God, consciousness can be something of a cosmic imperative.



Colin McGinn is a British philosopher, currently Professor of Philosophy and Cooper Fellow at the University of Miami.


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.

[danielpaulson]

Whenever I hear theories like this, I always want to ask how conscious they think dinosaurs were. Or the mold that preceded them? Or the hydrogen and helium that preceded them?

[michaelwrenn]

In his book, "Surely You're Joking..., " Richard Feynman, states about Einstein and Relativity, "I just can't see how he thought of it." I am in my seventh decade. I now see more significance of this statement by the ever-so-insightful physicist. The truth seems to be, ideas emerge from our consciousnesses, i.e., they visit us, we do not visit them. Consciousness seems to spring from a living being's will to live. The will to live is exhibited by all living beings. Consciousness may be the living brain's ability to access a field generated by existence. It could be called the, "I Am, " field. Carl Jung, another eminent scientist, can be trusted when he observed the psyche as the most delicate thing in the universe. He did the work necessary to discover the psyche is extraordinarily delicate. What is a 'field.' if it is not an expression of autonomous existence? To exist, matters. Is 'significance, ' God?

[flowwiththeuniverse]

Consciousness predates life, sounds like Panpsychism.

[dr.satishsharma]

Distinguished Dr.Colin MacGinn has beautifully, elegantly and in detail described consciousness and cosmos .... enabling viewers to have glimpse of consciousness / awareness / Brahman / fearless philosophers like him can only do justice with such subjects as they are free from loosing the tenure and also not victims of clubbing thanks 🙏.

[johnsafford]

I would love to hear an interview with C. Johan Masreliez on time and the Quantum.

[mediocrates]

Thinking about the electron before the Higgs field: that baby's goin light speed! No forward/backward dimension required!

[robertdiehl]

To say that the development of consciousness was, “certainly accidental

[dougg]

In the beginning there was the word. The word may be consciousness

[matishakabdullah]

Why explore consciousness and cosmos?

Well everyone has his own life !
Well life is becoming empty routines of sleeping, eating and procreating without knowing the truth why we are here with consciousness: ability to think and feels ?
To explore consciousness and cosmos is to know the realty of one position and the true meaning and purpose one existence in relation to the entire existence of the universe!
Knowing the external reality - the consciousness free reality - the physical aspects of reality - is only one aspect of one life can answer the emotional aspect of one life!

[finetuner]

Survival part of radical consciousness

[bozo]

Which came first, consciousness or navel-gazing?

[rudy]

Call it Absolute Energy. Consciousness manifests from that. The primal “stuff” of being.

[dougg]

“ you are all gods” may have meant you are conscious like gods

[dondattaford]

Great content consciousness a sheet of paper thinned out over vast distances and many questions

[ejw]

"One" as reference to the universal subject asking a question appears out of date and unfashionable. I'd rather someone say "I." It's way less pretentious and more accessible. Perfect for my digital age pea brain.

[Bill..N]

I respectfully disagree with Colin's first assertion..that consciousness is non spacial therefore it can't come from spacial origins..Sounds like a logic error derived from assumptive knowledge..The remainder of his argument relies heavily on that first flawed claim..Enjoyed it tho. Peace.

[aresmars]

A really interesting consideration is if laws of chemistry may behave differently on Earth as elsewhere. Is there an unknown "Gaia field" generated by life itself, which enables life? If so, perhaps life would not thrive on Mars, or even the moon, without the missing field. The Chinese just spouted seeds on the Moon, but died quickly after so we don't really know if we know all the ingredients for life on Mars until we send plants or animals or humans there!

[cagdasozgun]

How about making some videos about phenomenology? Its concepts, methods, its relation with science, psychology, art, philosophy, religion, and so on

[mrnoname]

I pauzed the vid. When he said the big bang created space.
Then what is nothing how on earth is that possible.
What is around the space?
Here is when i thought the big bang didn't happen.
Where is the theory of infinity.
For real this time.
I think the bang as we all thing is just moving one way faster than the speed of light.
Just think of it.
There is no infinity in the (big bang) because it has an beginning.
Weird isn't it? 😉

[cvsree]

Who explores it? Consciousness. So bottom line is exploring self is the key 😊