Descartes Theory Of Consciousness

Based on Professor Simone Glynn’s lectures consciousness is where impressions, dreams, memories, values and fantasies exist. Physically, It is the results of a chemical simulation of the brain; when physical things are structured in a certain way, it creates or gives rise to consciousness; emergent property.

Conscious is the word of origin of consciousness. It breaks down into the prefix "con-" which means "with" in this case, and the root "sci-" which means "knowledge.” In the end, the word "conscious" means, simply "with knowledge," or, "with awareness."

Some people get confused with the order of the brain, mind and conscious. The brain is an organ of soft nervous tissue contained in the skull of vertebrates, functioning as the coordinating

center of sensation and intellectual and nervous activity. In other words it is a physical thing that has an electrical charge that move nervous impulses around the body that sends messages everywhere needed. The mind, on the other hand, is not physical. There is also no universal agreement of what the mind is. John Locke describes the mind as blank sheet of paper where Impressions (an idea, feeling, or opinion about something or someone, especially one formed without conscious thought or on the basis of little evidence) , Reflections (serious thought or consideration) , dreams (a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep) , memories (our ability to encode, store,retain and subsequently recall information and past experiences in the human brain) , values (a person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life) and fantasies (imagination, especially when extravagant and unrestrained) are written down; that is consciousness. Consciousness isn’t the mind, it is in the mind. The mind is simply a container that holds consciousness (subject) and worldly (object) things.
Descartes describes the importance of the mind through the wax argument.

A study of Descartes explained it as, “He considers a piece of wax: his senses inform him that it has certain characteristics, such as shape, texture, size, color, smell, and so forth. However, when he brings the wax towards a flame, these characteristics change completely. However, it seems that it is still the same thing: it is still a piece of wax, even though the data of the senses inform him that all of its characteristics are different. Therefore, in order properly to grasp the nature of the wax, he cannot use the senses: he must use his mind.” Descartes concludes: "Thus what I thought I had seen with my eyes, I actually grasped solely with the faculty of judgement, which is in my mind." Therefore, consciousness starts in the organs and the moves to the sensations of the mind, and into the state where memories, values, beliefs, etc. exist. It is an emergent property.

Consciousness is an emergent property. Dictionary reference defines emergent property as any unique property that "emerges" when component objects are joined together in constraining relations to "construct" a higher-level aggregate object; a novel property that unpredictably comes from a combination of two simpler constituent. Therefore, consciousness is the emergent property of the brain’s

functions.
Its starts in the hardware structure of the brain. So first there is energy; a property of objects which can be transferred to other objects or converted into different forms, but cannot be created or destroyed. The root erg- means work. This energy transforms into matter; everything around you that takes up space. Then we narrow it down to subatomic particles; particles much smaller than an atom. Next, are the protons, neutrons, and electrons; which make up the atom. An atom is a basic unit of a chemical element. Continuing, when you put atoms together you get molecules; atoms held together by chemical bonds. This molecule of life is DNA; a molecule that carries most of the genetic instructions used in the development, functioning and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses. DNA then makes up cells; “the basic building blocks of all living things. The human body is composed of trillions of cells. They provide structure for the body, take in nutrients from food, convert those nutrients into energy, and carry out specialized functions.” The cells, when working together, form organs; a part of an organism that is typically self-contained and has a specific vital function, such as the heart or liver in humans. Which, finally, brings us to the brain; an organ of soft nervous tissue contained in the skull of vertebrates; functioning as the coordinating center of sensation and intellectual and nervous activity.
As the hardware structure changes/transform the software structure does as well.

The software structure begins in quantum physics; the branch of physics relating to the very small (protons, electrons etc.). It then transforms from quantum physics to nuclear physics which is the research is focused on understanding the matter composed of quarks and gluons, which makes up 99% of the mass of the universe. Next would be chemistry; the study of matter, and all matter is made up of atoms. It teaches about elements , atomic number and mass, isotopes, moles and compounds. Which then births organic biology; a molecule has a carbon backbone, with some hydrogen thrown in for good measure. Living creatures are made of various kinds of organic compounds. This leads us to biochemistry; the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. While moving forward the chemistry is no longer needed, leaving you with biology; the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Which brings you into Neurology; the branch of medicine or biology that deals with the anatomy, functions, and organic disorders of nerves and the nervous system. The root word of neurology is neuro- which means relating to nerve. Nerves are bundles of fiber that transmits impulses of sensation- perception or awareness of stimuli through the senses.-to the brain and spinal cord; this is where consciousness begins. Having of

sensations is the beginning of consciousness. And finally, by structure, we change sensations into thoughts. Thoughts are the product of mental activity; that which one thinks. Furthermore, meaning emerges from structure, therefore, sensations change into thoughts because of the meaning that emerges from this particular structure.
When put side by side the process of both hard and soft ware will look like this:

10) BRAIN (Hardware)
10) CONSCIOUSNESS (Software)
Organs
Sensations to Thoughts/ Neurology
Cells
Biology
Life
Biochemistry
Molecules
Organic Biology
Atoms
Chemistry
Protons, Neutrons etc.
Chemistry
Subatomic/Particles
Nuclear Physics
Matter
Nuclear Physics
Energy

Quantum Physics

To Conclude, based on Professor Glynn’s lectures, Consciousness is where impressions, reflections, dreams, memories, values, and fantasies exist. Sensations, which comes from organs ,is the beginning of consciousness. Mental affects the physical just as the physical affects the mental. Therefore the physical, when structured in a certain way gives rise to consciousness and awareness; that is an emergent property. As stated before consciousness is not the brain nor the mind; Consciousness is qualitative, meaningful and has values, whereas the brain is quantitive, being and facts. The mind creates consciousness; it makes things real. Therefore, Consciousness comes from the emergent property of the brain and is the place where impressions, reflections etc. exist. All humans have a conscious; it’s what makes us different. Experience consists of the conscious and world. People call it the spirit of man because you can’t see it but you know it is there. Nevertheless, our conscious brings awareness to what is in the world. People call it the spirit of man because you can’t see it but you know it is there.