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Originally Posted by Jway
Are you familiar with the concept of " lucid dreaming?"
Have you ever had experience of being in half dream state, half wake state (say upon first waking up) and continuing "plot" of dream in a conscious way?
How about day dreaming and fantasy? Are these not images and events that are not grounded in "this reality" while being directed by consciousness? |
I'm not sure how these dreams you speak of are any different than a dog's dream or any other dream state you might want to infer. These dream states are not what human consciousness is all about. Human consciousness has to do with one's ability to reflect symbolically on one's existence and experiences. It takes a symbolic language to do that. And dogs can't do that; only humans can.
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(Just speaking to the general topic, not necessarily the specific quote above.)
> While the visual is (arguably) the same for all eyes in the room, it is the interpretation and meaning that matters. IMO, it literally matters.
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Yes, of course. Then we must agree that human consciousness is a language sort of thing,
literally.
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> And I don't believe it can be overstated how much it matters that the same eyes look upon "own self" interpreting that within context.
> I think conceiving of a distinction in consciousness is subconscious processing. That these distinctions may surface to level of consciousness, and be held with conviction (that there are individual, separate consciousness around me), is I believe subtle example of consciously being aware while (day) dreaming.
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Again, these dream states are not unique to humans. If we are to understand human consciousness we have to examine how syntax evolved on the backs of symbols (i.e., words). Just a personal guess on my part, but I could see how "God" or "gods" was the first abstraction that necessitated a symbolic language. Perhaps the basic fear of death, as evidenced anthropologically by "grave goods" left behind for the deceased, was the kicker that brought on symbolic expression.
