What is consciousness?

Answer 1

It's your mind or your inner self or soul.

Answer 2

Consciousness is not a single thing but actually an illusion created from a seamless amalgam of several mental processes. I don't want to go into detail here, mainly because no one seems to understand what I talk about, but you can be sure that there are at least five processes that work together to produce what you think is your consciousness.

People don't like to be told that their ego or selves are an illusion, mainly because of the nature of the self, which has as its primary function its own preservation. It creates all sorts of myths and fictitious concepts about its own permanence. The self reacts rather rudely to any suggestion that it is not a permanent and eternal entity. It is the more foolish part of our consciousness.

Answer 3

I think the previous respondents have merely substituted another term for 'consciousness' eg 'awareness'
It is easier perhaps to describe non-conscious action: eg the seemingly complex behaviour of the sphex wasp in egg laying, tunnelling and depositing its eggs in a suitable host. it can be determined experimentally that this is just stereotyped/hard wired behaviour. If the process is interrupted, the sphex goes through the entire repetoire of the behaviour from the beginning.(bit like a reset button). Interestingly 'sphex' behaviour can be demonstrated in humans with certain pathological conditions.
I think that in certain of the higher mammals, (humans,chimps, dolphins) there exists sufficient brain organisation and complexity to monitor the actual sensations (that of seeing, hearing etc) and feeding back that 'secondary sensation' to a relevant part of the neural cortex (aware of being aware?!). Obviously a very useful faculty in evolutionary terms as it allows introspection, prediction and empathy.There may be problems in replicating this process in machines, without which true AI would be impossible.

Answer 4

This isn't a scientific answer, but I think that it's knowing you're alive, being aware of your own person. Humans are the only beings (that we know of) to have consciousness- though I can't shrug off the feeling that that's only due to our limited understanding.

Answer 5

consciousness is the symptom of the soul . Take a dead body wherw is consciousness then it is life less because the soul has departed so i would say it is the symptom of the soul

Answer 6

I believe it is what is otherwise known as Personal Identity or the Ego - a sense of selfhood, making you feel distinct and separate from other people. The Cartesian epithet - 'I think, therefore I am.' serves the purpose well in demonstrating that as long as you are aware of your own thoughts, you can be fairly confident that you exist; in the same way, if you are aware of your own thinking, you can also be fairly sure that you are conscious.

Answer 7

You, real you. That is who you really are..God Itself. Makes things happen.Piece of God feel into mind, your own creation a tool through which you are capable to operate in this world, not in which, but through which. Creation took over creator and dictate what is so...Fall initiated loss of identification and as a result we are desperately looking for a clue , trying to identify ourself with anything, mind, body, political parties, professions, name it...in another words with a creations, effects not a cause...All of creations or forms is mortal, Consciousness, formless Spirit is not but that which creates forms...

Answer 8

God,all things, nothing exists that is not consciousness.

Answer 9

It comes in many forms....awareness, a sense of self, cognition, ego. When these forms are distorted or malformed, there is confusion and ill mental health.

Answer 10

That little voice that tell you 'you are'... I think therefore I am. Also it simply refers to the state of awakeness which is opposite to asleep or 'miles away' or knocked out.

Answer 11

Its a little green insect known as a 'Crickett' - aka Jiminy Crickett

'Always let your conscious be your guide' - Jiminy Crickett