Is the Universe Conscious?

Question

6 mostly.............

Answer 1

We are the product of a universe that has developed the capacity to become aware of itself.
These abilities of the universe are repeated over and over again throughout the universe
We are not alone!!

Answer 2

A very interesting question.
It's not possible to know the answer to this question.

Some people will believe compassionately that the answer is yes.
Some people will just as firmly assert that the answer mustt be no.

In humans, consciousness is related to our ability to remember the past and plan for the future.

If we can imagiine that the Universe as a whole is working toward a particular final state, then we can imagine that the Universe is planning its own future.

On the other hand, we can just as easily imagine that the Universe evolves by following simple physical laws that do not require the Universe to have any consciousness.


Kermit < [e-mail] >

Answer 3

This is a philosophical question, not a science question, because we cannot know enough of the universe to be sure that we have examined a large enough portion to be sure. We could never tell is a human being was conscious simply by examining his cells. We need to look at the macroscopic level, the level of the whole human. Then we can determine whether it is a conscious human or a sleeping human, a live human or a freshly-dead human.

However, looking at the Universe, it does not seem to be conscious. In as much as we can determine, looking as far as we can see in any direction, the universe seems to behave according to solely mechanical laws. This argues against it having conscious that corresponds to anything like consciousness as we know it.

As far as the universe is concerned, we do not seem to matter to it. Our consciousness, our happiness, or love, hate, justice, injustice, do not seem to matter to the universe. They matter so much to us, though, that it seems at odds with the purely mechanical and impersonal nature of the universe.

EITHER:

we are products of the universe, created solely by impersonal mechanical forces, and hence we are not really conscious but are mechanical and impersonal; we only deceive ourselves into thinking that we are conscious persons,

OR

we are NOT products of the universe, created solely by impersonal mechanical forces; we have not deceived ourselves and we are truly conscious persons as we seem to ourselves to be.

This is the basic dilemma that leads so many people to believe in a transcendent and personal God, one who is not part of the universe (hence, not mechanical and impersonal) and who made us to be personal beings living in this mechanical and impersonal universe (hence we are also not mechanical and impersonal.)

Discussions of evolution and the possiblity of life on other planets simply do not touch upon this. They are like discussing which is better, Ford or Chevrolet, when you haven’t even made internal combustion yet. When we get down to the basic questions, there are not really too many options out there. If we want to be intellectually consistent with ourselves, we have to deal with the issues of transcendence and personality. If we don’t wish to be intellectually honest with ourselves, of course, there is no need to admit that the questions are valid.

21 DEC 06, 0406 hrs, GMT.

Answer 4

We are part of the Universe, We are Conscious, thus yes the Universe is conscious.

You might enjoy researching the spiritual beliefs of 'Pantheism' - it is the notion that God is the Universe, and everything is part and connected.

Answer 5

What do you mean by conscious? Choose one:

1. awake: awake and responsive to stimuli
He’s been seriously injured but he’s still conscious.

2. keenly aware of something: aware of something, and attaching importance to it
I’m conscious of all you’ve done for us.

3. considered and deliberate: considered and deliberate, or done with critical awareness
a conscious effort not to lose her temper

4. aware and well-informed: aware of issues relating to a particular topic of serious significance (often used in combination with adverbs)
environmentally conscious

5. concerned with something: aware of and interested in a particular topic (often used hyphenated in combination)
fashion-conscious
health-conscious

6. psychology functioning with individual’s knowledge: concerned with or relating to a part of the mind that is capable of thinking, choosing, or perceiving

Answer 6

Not that I know of, I tell it how much it sucks all the time but it has yet to respond to my words.