One of the big questions regarding human consciousness is whether consciousness has any effect on the material brain and body. Does consciousness, which is surely not a physical entity (although many argue that it reduces to physical brain phenomenon, just as lightening relates to electrical discharges), have an independent effect on how the body acts and moves? Or is it “epiphenomenal”, just along for the ride, just “watching” what the mechanical mind is perceiving and deciding?

I personally thing that question will someday be shown to be a false presumption in itself. Consciousness will be shown to be inherent and inseparable from the physical processes within the brain. It can’t be that consciousness is some sort of severable force or ghost-like entity that stands apart from the physical brain and “throws the levers” within it. And yet, matter and physical processes having consciousness will be shown to act differently than those without consciousness.

For now, though, we still don’t have a clear definition of just what consciousness is. Just what sets it off? What tips a complicated physical system, one that handles lots of data and information, over the edge into self-awareness, into that higher realm of world awareness? We don’t know yet. Maybe someday we will. Until then, the best we can say is that we know consciousness when we see it (in someone else). And when we experience it (in ourself). One thing we can do in the interim: learn to make the most of the time that we do have consciousness.

PS — on the topic of national consciousness (if there is such a thing), there was an interesting poll done by CBS News the other day. When asked how the Founding Fathers (Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, Madison, etc.) would feel if they could come back and see America today, 72% said they would probably be disappointed! As to whether life for the future generations will be better, the same or worse, 48% said worse; 25% said better, and 24% said “the same”. Bottom line, about half aren’t very optimistic about the future. To be fair, there was some optimism; 49% said that they were at least “somewhat satisfied” with their present life, and 62% said they had better opportunities to succeed than their parents’ generation. That was down from 72% in a 2000 poll, though.