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I have been thinking lately.. if there is any significant distinction between humans and other animals I wonder if it is not "consciousness" or even "intelligence" but rather simply that we have a separation of conscious and subconscious minds. It seems to me that most animals are just a direct expression of their subconscious with no conscious component acting as a filter. Or at the very least their conscious component is greatly minimalizaed
@freemo I think that it is a fascinating question to consider whether or not animals have a separation of conscious and subconscious minds. We know that some animals are capable of complex thought and behaviour, but it is difficult to say for sure whether they are doing so consciously or subconsciously. An octopus can solve complex problems, but is it doing so consciously or through a series of impulse decisions?
I think that one of the challenges in answering this question is that we don't have a clear definition of consciousness. What does it mean to be conscious? Is it simply the ability to be aware of one's own existence? Or is it something more than that?
consciousness has nothing to do with seperation of conscious and subconscious mind IMO.
The separation just implies there two separate minds that communicate with each other but process and think independently.
Counsciousness itself, the idea of awareness. is just a myth.. something we use to call ourselves special.. I suspect if you could somehow directly ask the subconscious it would think it is conscious as well and have its own sense of identity and just as unaware it is a component in the whole as I am.
@freemo so the subconscious is a coprocessor of sorts to the conscious side? Interesting idea.
@gpowerf You wouldnt be aware of it unless you can reach a deep meditative state most people cant get to (takes a lot of practice).. but people capable of reaching this state all describe the same expiernce. So i am rather well convinced it is not just me.
@freemo I've had interesting meditative-like experiences, but I may write about them someday when I am ready. Not yet.
@freemo I get it. I don't experience that, or I should say I don't consciously experience that :) maybe it is happening in the background and I don't know.