Quantum consciousness...

[bennyboy]

I personally think that the more intelligent the animal, the more conscious it is likely to be, and to know what it is doing and why.

I'm interested in this sentence, because I think it lies at the heart of one's view about consciousness. It seems to me that consciousness is binary-- it's like a light switch that's either on or off. The particular ideas, sensations, and so on that one might experience seem to me to exist IN consciousness, or perhaps to be objects OF consciousness. I wouldn't say that something is more conscious, but rather that it is more mentally active, and I wouldn't equate mental activity with consciousness-- at least, not exactly as synonymous.

On the other hand, what would a conscious agent be like if there was NO perception or sensation? Would it still be conscious, or is that simply an oxymoron? I do have some interest in meditation-- certainly those guys, whatever you think of their spiritual or religious beliefs, are really walking close to that line between consciousness and a lack of it.