What should we name him?

Lydia's Essay on Boobs

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I found this interesting and thought it related to our topic of consciousness and the limits of our five senses to a higher or higher awareness.

Pale Blue Follow - Up

To answer your question regarding the state of confusion, there is much data supporting the undisputed fact that confusion can be induced both internally and externally.  My usage of the term 'confusion' was a reference to the internal reaction a new creature may have to the new external environment. But perhaps you are right, if the creature had just come into existence upon it's arrival on Earth, then maybe confusion could not occur because it's possible that in order to be confused, the brain would have to be comparing it to something else in order for it to process as confusion.  For example, I grow used to trees that have leaves high above the ground and land on a planet where the trees seem to grow from the top down.  I might feel confused because my brain has another context to compare the new tree to. 

My answer to my own questions are something along the following:

 

1.  My answer is simply, we can't know.  We can assume that in order to have a conscious one must be sentient, wakeful, possess a sense of the self, and so on.  But one of two things is happening in the pursuit of a definite understanding of consciousness: 1. We as humans are seeking yet another reason to believe and exercise a power over all other creatures in and out of this world by continuing to purport that consciousness simply applies only to creatures like ourselves, or 2. see number 1.  Or maybe, like math, consciousness and the understanding of it, is just another way we, as humans, go on trying to understand this very large universe we find ourselves in.  That being said, I agree with you that humans only experience a fraction of what actually is.  Which is why I find it humorous that we continue to believe that we are somehow more powerful than other beings simply because we have, 'concsiousness'.  Maybe it's not so much the superpower we make it out to be.

 

2.  This question was just a follow up to one.  Seeing as our experience of the world is limited to that of what we are (human), I believe we absolutely unequipped to make judgement on whether other creatures have possess the consciousness that we hold so dearly to our own kind.

 

You: "Also, should the way we behave or act alter knowing whether or not a creature not pertaining to the human form can encapsulate consciousness?"

 

I'm not sure about this question.  Are you asking if whether the way humans behave or act should change whether we know if a nonhuman creature may or may not have a consciousness?  Even when I rephrase it, it still doesn't make much sense.  Or maybe I'm just confused because the withdrawal of the alcohol I drank last night is inhibiting my brain function in some sense and causing me to be so. 

re: Pale Blue Splat

How can we be sure that a creature not pertaining to the human form could encapsulate a consciousness?  I have no problem entertaining the possibility because it is of my nature to consider all things as conceivable, but I'm sure many so-called 'humanists' would disagree with the notion of a consious being outside of our own environment (I don't think E.T. would agree with them).

But for the purposes of conceivability, if I had been a non-human creature popping into existence orbiting and eventually landing on Earth with only the meager capability of the unfortunately short list of five 'human' senses, I suppose my experience would go something like this:

Clearness, pain, confusion, blurriness, focus, euphoria, and then pain again, followed by euphoria and an endless cycle of the above emotions.

What do you think it feels like to be a piece of soil, a giraffe, or an atom?  Does it 'feel' like anything?  How can we be sure that any other being does or does not have a conciousness?

Dear Solomon

It's 12:51 am here in Maui and I can't fall asleep.  Granted, I've been staring at the computer for a good 6 hours and haven't even tried to make the journey back to my bed, but still, I don't feel very tired.  The T.V. is on, the doors are all open, my cousin has passed out on the couch next to me while baby and mom are fast asleep in the room across the hall.  And I have a container filled with reminents of what was once cold lasagna sitting in front of me.

I'm worried.  Worried about finding a job and worried about affording to live here on my own.  At times it seems like such a big jump: quit a job in DC, move to Maui on a wim.  I've always wanted life to be a grande adventure.  And still, being here in Maui, I am thinking of moving to Colorado, or New Zealand, or taking a job in Afghanistan.  Am I a true adventurist or just chronically dissatisfied with what I have?

I can't say I made this move to find meaning in life.  Maybe to find sunshine, but not meaning.  Maybe to feel the island breeze and softness of the crashing waves, but not to find meaning.  I must have known that the loneliness I felt in Virginia would follow me here.  There are barely any jobs, and I feel a spell of desperation coming on.  It's only just now Day 3. 

Keep me in your prayers and you in mine,

Lyds

Dear Solomon

Dear Solomon,

Today was officially Day 2 of my move to Maui, Hawaii.  I slept fairly heavily, waking only once to the sound of baby's playful screams in the next room.  When I awoke a few hours later, the door to my room had been closed, probably in hopes that they wouldn't wake me.

The apartment I share with my cousin and his wife and baby is small, but somehow it fits all of us.  I sleep on a medium-sized bed next to the baby's bed.  Baby is sleeping with her mom and dad in their room until I leave, or they grow comfortable enough with me to put her back in her room while I'm still there.  The universe only know's which will occur first.

The island of Maui is beautiful, even though I've only traveled about 10 miles outside of Kahului (where the airport and my cousin's place are conviniently located).  As you travel in from O'ahu, the beauty of the West Maui Mountains is so stunning, it left me dumbfounded.  It was almost as if you are entering the kingdom of God, herself (*wink).  During the day the mountains are always visible, even through fog, clouds, and vog (pollution from volcanic ash) traveling from the Big Island.  Today we traveled southwest into Iao Valley, where the vegitation was so lush it seemed to lustfully suck us in.  We only traveled in to look and quickly back out, but I vow to go back for a hike in the upcoming months.

That was after we were texting about starting this blog.  Once we got back home, we put on our tennis shoes and headed down and across the street to the War Memorial Stadium where I ran laps and worked on sprinting while baby and her mom took a leisurely walk.  The sun was hot and my sprinting skills were lacking, but I was happy to have the opportunitiy to exercise.  Luckily, both my cousin and his pregnant wife are in the military and keep up with physical training, so they understand my obsessive need to work out. 

Upon return to the small apartment, I got online and applied to at least four jobs.  I applied to four jobs I would rather not work at, but I'm worried about being able to support myself here so I'm remaining open to all opportunities.  I can't even remember what jobs I applied to, I just hope I remember if they respond to my application.  And I do hope they respond.

I found a prospective job at the Hyatt in Lahaina that I thought I might be somewhat good at.  It's a position for a Banquet Assistant Manager position.  Lahaina is on the lower west side of the island, and I've heard that there are number of hotels and shopping in that area.  I also found a group of girls who are looking for a roommate in Lahaina.  Their advertisement on craigslist was for a female roommate to actually share a room (as in boardroom style) for around $450 a month.  They also said that they have surfboards and swimming equiment to share, and I found that pretty attractive.  I haven't been to Lahaina yet, it seems my cousin doesn't go down to that area very often.  But everytime I mentioned to people in Oahu that I was moving to Maui, they would always ask me if I was going to live in Lahaina.  All the hype has gotten me excited to see what the area is like.  My cousin's wife also mentioned that there is a large Borders Bookstore in Lahaina as well, and that has really sold me on it.  I will laugh if my move to Maui results in me doing the same thing I did in Virginia: hang out at the bookstore.

Tomorrow, we might be going to the beach to do some stand-up paddle.  I'm hoping to get up early enough for a good run and then a workout with my cousin at the gym.  I will definitely let you know how it pans out.

I heard it's pretty cold in DC now, are you looking forward to going back to Florida?  When do you leave?

Miss you,

Lyds