Can conciousness be studied scientifically? Do cognitive science have chances of explaining it?

Question

There are mixed feelings about this in psychology and philosophy... what do you think about it? Are Christof Koch and David Chalmers wrong about it?

Answer 1

This all hinges on what you mean by science. If you mean typical "objective" science, then no. Consciousness is only availible subjectively. And objective science is purposefully structured to neither imply or exclude any subjective elements.

A standard illustration of this is to imagine some future scientist who knows everything there is to know about vision -optical science, neurophysiology etc. But the scientist was born blind. Even with complete knowledge of the objective correlates of vision, this scientist would not have any idea what any of the phenomenal qualities of vision, for instance the color red,might actually look like. our current scientific observational tools won't cut it.

What we need is to look into technologies for exploring subjectivity. One such avenue, as some of your other answers indicate, is to look into the mental procedures of the East. Science enhanced with these kinds of observational tools and well developed methodology for removing any unreasonable metaphysical claims, should be able to study consciousness.
Chalmers, for one, accepts this point of view.

Answer 2

If one considers the process of meditation within the self a form or scientific experimentation, then yes Consciousness can be studied scientifically. By the process of dissolving the Ego self then and only then can consciousness even be seen or should I say be experienced.
By using the science of cognition: one can use these as a form of communication between the self and the perfect consciousness, which is only separated from the self by the ego. In other words, by observations made from connection of thoughts and sensations, one can learn what the Supreme Consciousness wants to teach it. Only one's desiring to understand anything will ever experience such. The desire to know, is the same for a Scientist and a Spiritual seeker of truth.

Answer 3

Consider this: - consciousness varies with varying publically observable conditions.

Crude example: if someone knocks you hard enough on the head you no longer behave as a conscious person behaves.

Less crude example: using a simple reward system, control can be exerted over people's conscious behaviour, so much so that they will give you their money willingly (as the slot-machine industry proves).

Sophisticated example: it can be predicted, very precisely, what effect certain drugs will have on a person's consciousness.

Most sophisticated example: language is the means by which a publically observable stimulus can have a precise effect on consciousness. As you read these words I am, indirectly, having a precise effect on your consciousness, so much so that you are going to award me Best Answer.

Are you buying this?

Answer 4

Conciousness can not be observed nor can be experimented. I think Christof and david are absolut ly wrong.

Answer 5

no - because consciousness is utterly simple, formless, elementless, without parts

it is the same as energy which is the same as matter

it is everything - it is existence - it is life

it is root and branch, leaf and flower and fruit and seed, of the tree of life