Bernard Carr - Why Did Consciousness Emerge?

There was a time when there was no consciousness in our universe. Now there is. What caused consciousness to emerge? Did consciousness develop in the same way that, say, the liver or the eye developed, by random mutation and fitness selection during evolution? Inner experience seems to be radically different from anything else. Are we fooling ourselves?

Bernard J. Carr is a Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy at Queen Mary, University of London. His research interests include the early universe, dark matter, general relativity, primordial black holes, and the anthropic principle.

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.

[MYOB]

More and more physicists and other leading scientific thinkers seem to be endorsing the idea of some kind of "metaphysical" mechanisms, however tenuously, mostly linked to the ideas of Quantum Theory.
For me this is very heartening.

[guessafrance]

consciousness is above all awareness of the self, when a child begins to say "I", he begins to become aware of his person and then the anxiety of his finitude seizes him. he then feels desperately lost in the face of the absurdity of his own existence. then comes into play the tales and legends, the entertainment, all the crutches necessary for him to continue walking to the grave.

[peweegangloku]

We need honest physicists like this guest. He tells it as he sees it. Those who try to keep science in the shackle of absolute physicalism are doing a great disservice to the field of science and humanity at large.

[yfranddu]

This is superb. As a research scientist and a deeply spiritual person this aligns with my thoughts so well.
Please do more with Bernard Marr

[louisbrassard]

''It is clear consciousness did emerge.'' Only if you think it emerged with brains which is'nt establish. Bergson made the point that digestion existed much prior to the evolution of specialised digestive organs and so in the same manner the function of consciousness may preceded the emergence of brain which are concentrated nervous systems. Many in fact argued that consciousness is central to all lifes and some argued that organic life is'nt the only forms of life and that the Universe is alive and conscious and in that case consciousness of the Universe in its most primitive form would exist and everything would emerge from it and not the other way around.

[Meditation]

Bernard Carr is absolutely wonderful! Such a great scientist and a wonderful human being! ❤

[FirstnameLastname-pscu]

I find it very strange how we talk about consciousness without having a definition of consciousness.

Step 1: What is consciousness?

[mvn]

Any aim to extend our knowledge with mainstream scientific paradigm (which is information), will in my opinion reveal that the knowledge of the microcosmos as well as the macro cosmos are fractal in nature.
I think most scientists would rather see it as reaching for the asymptote of information, whilst possibly, there's no asymptote to start with. I think that is a result of the limitation of our senses and intelligent capacity.
We might see ourselves as intelligent, but I think we are not capable of even grasping the very fundament of it all.
I find Carr's view on things (and he's not alone) the most logical and consistent.

[ravenragnar]

Some prominent theories include the Global Workspace Theory, the Integrated Information Theory, the Attention Schema Theory, and the Emotional Signal Theory. It is likely that consciousness is a complex phenomenon that cannot be explained by any single theory, and it may be the result of a combination of factors, including the brain's structure and function, our evolutionary history, and our environment. While the mystery of consciousness remains unsolved, the study of this fascinating phenomenon continues to advance, and we may one day be able to unlock the secrets of consciousness and understand its true nature.

[Ekam-Sat]

I don't know why (cosmic) consciousness emerged. It's like asking "why did God emerge" or "why did Self emerge". Maybe the better question to ask is what is the underlying reason for the big bang or fluctuations in the early universe, or, why is there biodiversity? Why does the sea create waves? I am Catholic so for me it's simple. It's all about love baby. It is not good for the Man to be alone (Gen 2:18). Thank you. Bless you. Grateful you are here. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. ❤

[simonmundy]

Excellent! Glad to hear of open-minded researchers like Bernard Carr! Ancient India’s Samkhya viewpoint is that Consciousness with a big “C” and Ether with a big “E” are the fundamental structure of the Cosmos whether in ‘disturbance’-mode or in ‘quiescence-mode'. A Time/Space in the Universe when/where Purusha–Prakriti are absent is inconceivable. As inconceivable as emergence of the 12 fundamental numbers. Neither Consciousness nor Ether emerge. We in our complexity emerge into and out of them, not the other way around. The great mystery is the ‘something third’ –hence Sam.khya–the force in-between Siva & Shakti.
From the Preface of my book, I quote —"we live using feeble light reflected in the moon of our thinking mind, oblivious to the sun’s radiance reflected in our heart-mind. The light of the thinking mind is but the reflection of a reflection in a corridor of mirrors.”

[HakWilliams]

Just because consciousness is mysterious and quantum is mysterious that doesn't mean you can use one to explain the other

[richardblades]

Fabulous interview. A brave man reporting what he sees.

[edimbukvarevic]

Evidence comes from latin 'obvious to the eye or mind'. So, no evidence without 'eye or mind'. Since science is suposed to be based (or relies) on evidence, we have to conclude that there can't be physical reality without 'eye or mind'. Just try to imagine any physical reality or universe without evidence ('eye or mind', consciousness, awareness...); it's entirely impossible, nonsensical...

[bretnetherton]

Awareness is known by awareness alone.

[bjarterundereim]

Why ask why consciousness emerged, when there is noone to tell _what_ it is?
How can you see why - when you cannot see what?
If somebody really knows what it is, please tell!

[rubabu]

Isn't consciousness what is already existing and therefore no need for 'emerging' as such ?

[adityadutta]

Excellent discussion. Would love to see CTT conversations with Federico Faggin and Edward Frenkel.

[REDPUMPERNICKEL]

The phrase, "first person experience" is redundant since
"first person" means 'self' and
a self is an instance of the and
"experience" is the modulation of that process by other thoughts.
I.e., 'experience' contains 'first person' within its meaning.
There is not and there cannot be non-first-person experience.

[MrSudesh]

Exploring the Nature of Consciousness and Medical Anesthesia

I've been pondering the concept of consciousness lately, especially in the context of medical procedures where doctors use medications to induce partial or complete unconsciousness. It makes me wonder - did we create medications that truly affect consciousness, or are we more accurately dulling the senses while incorrectly using the term "consciousness"?

Consider this analogy with the small sea of consciousness during medical operations. It raises questions about how we understand and manipulate consciousness. But then, how about the vast sea of consciousness in the Earth, universe, quantum world, etc.? Do we have any "methods" or "medications" to dull or alter the consciousness of nature on a grand scale? It's intriguing to think about.

What are your thoughts on this? Can the consciousness of nature be influenced or altered, or is it beyond our grasp? Looking forward to hearing your perspectives!

My perspective -
Obviously if conciousness is fundamental in nature then it cannot be influenced or altered, if it has originated at a later point of time then maybe it can be altered, because what gets created can be destroyed as well.

Cheers!