The mystery of consciousness

Symbols sequenced to a syntax can represent a body of knowledge.
But they cannot represeent a sensation. Thus, we do not have the laguange to express sensations, perform opertions on sensation etc.. The fact that we have not been able to represent a sensation in a symblic language establisheshes the fact that we have not uncovered the mechanism of manifesting sensations. Had chat with Loen at Austin Osis tooday. He seems to imagine that  sensations are logical problems and witll be algorithmically solved one day. But like others, he is not able to show a prototype of the mechnism.

Motivation and Inspiration

05/18/2017:

Mechanism of motivation and inspiration can be understood by introspection. Walk back in time to an occasion that inspired and motivated you. Trace your thoughts and feelings as you went from an unmotivated to a motivated state. What was it that triggered motivation? Using the example of exercise, say you were unmotivated and looking for reasons to skip exercising on a day. But then some thought inspired you to go to the gym. What could that thought be ? Perhaps, visions of a shapely body. Perhaps the sight of some of your secret competitors going to the gym and leaving you behind ?The thought of being surrounded by beautiful bodies at the gym or the possibility of running into someone you admire. Any of these could have triggered the motivation. Motivation need not have come from rational thoughts of the health benefits of exercising exclusively. Motivation draws you into life with ease and delight. How wonderful it would be to be inspired and motivated to accomplish the goals we set for our selves. Being inspired and motivated in all our efforts would make life such a joy. When inspired, we live in the moment with enthusiasm and joy. Does it not seem worthwhile to design motivational and inspirational triggers into all of our activities! There must be ways to generate inspiration at will. I have noticed that it is easier to be motivated when my physical state is good - not hungry or thirsty, well rested, peaceful rather than agitated, comfortable rather than hot or cold or in pain. Perhaps, we should be mindful of physical well being in order to receive motivation and inspiration. Visualizing the consequence of achieving a goal also encourages motivation. Finding thought solutions for obstacles to achieving a goal clears the way for motivation to manifest.

   The process of making one self physically comfortable, followed by bringing the mind to a peaceful state and then thinking through obstacles and achieving goals could be used as a catalyst for inspiration. Overcoming obstacles in thought experiments diminishes the influence of demotivating factors. When the mind can see solution to a problem, we are energized to pursue the solution in the external world. We are aware of the delight experienced owing to having found a solution in thought. There possibly is subconscious effects of the solution in conscious part of the brain.

Natural Selection Led To Human Values

Apr/7/2017

  Natural selection promoted memory of the past and forecasting of the future. The ability to simulate future scenarios in the mind rather than to live it in the physical world made it possible for animals to  safely navigate new circumstances. The animals are driven by their instincts. The basic survival drives such as eat, fight, flee, reproduce were supplemented by the higher level ability to remember the past and simulate the future. e.g.. animal is hungry and wants food. When food is not readily available, those that were able to remember location of food sources from past experiences were better survivors. Those that were able to simulate the movements of prey became better hunters. These abilities were refined generation after generation. Eventually, hunters that were more successful when hunting in groups and those that were safer when they lived in groups evolved social abilities. Social abilities by way of continued evolution gave rise to groups ethics, altruism, language, culture and so on. 

eg. why altruism - it promotes one's self image, respectability and likability in the parent group, respect and likability promote survival - if group members help each other, the group becomes better fitted for survival. An individual does not trace this rationale, it merely experiences pleasure from helping others. In evolutionary terms, altruistic behavior promoted the survival of the group in relation to competing groups. Those that enjoyed altruistic behavior simply became more helpful, consequently their group became better at survival. Groups that were better at survival lasted longer. Consider the idea that human values that are experienced as good promote survival of the individual and of the species. Bad values inhibit survival. Are there examples of moral good and bad that don't fit this pattern?

  

Sense of right and wrong, good and bad
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