Quote:1 .If consciousness is an emergent phenomenon then it has to emerge from something else, if it emerged from the universe then by way of causality the universe necessarily existed first - If the universe existed before consciousness then it can necessarily exist without.
2. Do you think we have proven everything about the universe? No, right? Does the stuff we haven't proved to exist still exist? Yes? Then it seems like a conscious being having proof that something exists is in no way necessary for that thing to exist.
1. I'm saying that because the universe contains all of time, at some point in time consciousness does exist. If consciousness exists at any point in time, then it can exist. They create each other, but neither can exist without the other. Unless of course, you believe that consciousness can exist outside the universe itself and does not require a physical body of sorts.
2. Kind of the same as above... we just haven't proven it yet, but if we do or if some other form of consciousness somewhere out there proves it at any point in time then it is certain that it exists.
Basically, the universe can exist without consciousness if it wants, but if there is no consciousness to prove it does then neither one of us could say that it does or doesn't, it cannot be proven. We wouldn't even be able to have the conversation of, "'does it exist?' 'yes' 'prove it' 'i can't, we don't exist.'" it wouldn't make sense. The only way to prove 100% that something exists is if there is a consciousness to prove it to.
