Consciousness

[jonb]

Why am I not a gorilla in the amazon or an old lady's poodle?

It's like flowers and bees, son. Because when a mommy and a daddy love each other very much, they decide to..

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(Not the answer you were looking for, but I couldn't resist )

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Typical of a Scandinavian to reduce it all down to sex.

[Kayenneh]

Typical of a Scandinavian to reduce it all down to sex.

Isn't that what life is all about? *confused*

[Ben Davis]

It has been driving me crazy. Why am I not a gorilla in the amazon or an old lady's poodle?

The simple answer is because 'you' are not independent of your physiology. In fact, 'you' are the qualia of your physical existence. You feel like 'you' because you're busy being 'you'.

Sum ergo sum.

[genkaus]

It has been driving me crazy. Why am I not a gorilla in the amazon or an old lady's poodle? I don't have anything else to add really...

That's silly. If you were any of those things, you wouldn't be you.

There are infinite ways of proving that God as most major religions define it does not exist, but the fact that I am human makes me much cooler than all the other members of the animal kingdom. Why do I have that advantage?

What kind of answer are you looking for here? The chain of causality that led to your current identity can be easily figured out. Your question seems to be looking for some sort of intention or design behind it - in that case you already know the answer you are going to get here.

[Psykhronic]

There are infinite ways of proving that God as most major religions define it does not exist, but the fact that I am human makes me much cooler than all the other members of the animal kingdom. Why do I have that advantage?

Wut.

Really?

[jonb]

Coolest animal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvCdOXG2rPo

[DeistPaladin]

I've sometimes wondered where that line is between sentience and stimulus response in some beings? At what point is life so simple as to not be aware of its own existence?

Viruses, technically not even meeting the definition of life in biology, operate enough to seek out cells, infect them and produce copies of themselves. Micro-organisms operate according to stimulus response but are unlikely to be sentient as they have no brains as we know it. Plant life and fungus life also lacks a central nervous system and a brain. What about insects? Are they aware of their own existence? Cats and dogs seem to be able to interact with others and bond socially, which could be an indication they are self-aware. So where's the line drawn?

[jonb]

I've sometimes wondered where that line is between sentience and stimulus response in some beings? At what point is life so simple as to not be aware of its own existence?

Viruses, technically not even meeting the definition of life in biology, operate enough to seek out cells, infect them and produce copies of themselves. Micro-organisms operate according to stimulus response but are unlikely to be sentient as they have no brains as we know it. Plant life and fungus life also lacks a central nervous system and a brain. What about insects? Are they aware of their own existence? Cats and dogs seem to be able to interact with others and bond socially, which could be an indication they are self-aware. So where's the line drawn?

For me, I would set the pole very low. If a thing has a choice, and consistently makes choices which seem to be in its own interests, I would say there is some self-awareness there.

[Annik]

I'm confused as to what consciousness has to do with being a poodle.

[jonb]

I'm confused as to what consciousness has to do with being a poodle.

That question would be best submitted to 'A Theist'.