Self-awareness

[scrapinpeg]

What's the difference between consciousness, self-awareness, and thought?

Can a creature think without being conscious? Is recursive thought a requirement of consciousness, or is it the other way round?

If you wonder why I'm asking, I'm not sure. I'm wondering why I'm wondering it myself. Maybe because I saw a baby earlier and wondered what was going on in there.

[keith]

Originally Posted by scrapinpeg

Maybe because I saw a baby earlier and wondered what was going on in there.

what you need is a hammer, a chisel and a spoon.

As to your question; none. Which is not very useful but I'm not sure there is any meaningful way to parse consciousness, self-awareness, and thought into three disconnected things. ie Consciousness is the awareness of the self and thought is the activity that allows you to make that observation.

[Angelic]

Originally Posted by scrapinpeg

What's the difference between consciousness, self-awareness, and thought?

Very Good topic, I like it!!! Well here it goes …

Self-awareness – To know ones self (Very simple xe xe xe)
Thought – Simply … thought
Consciousness – The one thing that separates one from another, very complicated i.e. it derives from ones feelings, the way he was brought up, the incentives he was brought up with, the way he understands right or wrong and the way he responds to situations based on that. Consciousness = Our character.

Originally Posted by scrapinpeg

Can a creature think without being conscious? Is recursive thought a requirement of consciousness, or is it the other way round?

Do killers have consciousness (I am talking about the crazy ones who enjoy doing harm to others)? They think of doing “bad” to other people, but do they think of their actions?

Ok question .. I think a good one …
If a mad person totally mad, who is a killer, rapist, etc (yak), who does not comprehend what he does, he does it only because it makes him feel good (yak), and taking into consideration that he was brought up with violence and does not have consciousness of his actions for the above reasons … will he go to paradise or not? Yes/No and why?

Recursive thought … If something troubles you and it pesters in your mind for long time you may say it is recursive thought … the part of why you are thinking about it may derive from your consciousness.
Example:
Someday you meet your best friend’s girlfriend and you fall in love instantly, ok?
On the one hand you are in love … on the other hand it is your BEST friend.
You will according to your consciousness have the thought that “No he is my friend, I can not do that to him” but “Oh my, I never thought I would feel that way” and this goes over and over and over …
Is it a “recursive thought” derived from your feelings? I think yes.
But how you will react and finally what you will do depends from your consciousness. Will you betray you friend, or let go someone you are truly in love with?

Good day

P.S.: It’s annoying when you are typing and you are logged off.

[RebelFencer]

Originally Posted by scrapinpeg

What's the difference between consciousness, self-awareness, and thought?

Can a creature think without being conscious? Is recursive thought a requirement of consciousness, or is it the other way round?

If you wonder why I'm asking, I'm not sure. I'm wondering why I'm wondering it myself. Maybe because I saw a baby earlier and wondered what was going on in there.

Consciousness is essentially the same thing as being self aware. Thought seems to be independent of the two. I really don't like writing long posts...so I'll post my reasoning if someone disagrees.

[latenight]

Originally Posted by RebelFencer

Consciousness is essentially the same thing as being self aware. Thought seems to be independent of the two. I really don't like writing long posts...so I'll post my reasoning if someone disagrees.

I disagree.............



J/K, I just want to make you write a long post.

[Five Rings]

I would have thought that "conciousness" was more a biological or physiological function, and "self-awareness" was more a sociological or psychological function. "Thought" could be voluntary or involuntary but imply the use of some nervous function.

Ergo, one could be concious but not think. And one could think but not be self-aware.

BTW, I am self-aware that I probably sound like an idiot. But that's better than being concious and not thinking abou it. Now I am really self-concious about this post.

[scrapinpeg]

Hmm. I'm not at all convinced that self-awareness and consciousness are the same thing. A lizard is certainly conscious, but probably isn't self-aware. And does it think at all, or is it purely an instinctive creature?

I'd say you need consciousness before you can have thought, and you need thought before you can have that strangely recursive phenomenon of self-awareness.

[Black Jeebus]

This is the idea of sentience versus sapience. Modern science-fiction has co-opted the word sentient to mean- beings capable of rational thought, where they clearly mean sapient. This is something of a pet peeve of mine and when I see an author that correctly uses the word sapient to refer to a group capable of rational/abstract/human-like thought, I giggle excitedly and inevitably look for the rest of his/her books.

[Gav]

Interesting question and one that has been plaguing humanity since Mr Cave asked his friend "I wonder..." and the other replied "Why do ask?"

Somehow I doubt you are going to get an answer any time soon.

[scrapinpeg]

Originally Posted by Black Jeebus

This is the idea of sentience versus sapience. Modern science-fiction has co-opted the word sentient to mean- beings capable of rational thought, where they clearly mean sapient. This is something of a pet peeve of mine and when I see an author that correctly uses the word sapient to refer to a group capable of rational/abstract/human-like thought, I giggle excitedly and inevitably look for the rest of his/her books.

Pearwood?