Consciousness

[Alan V]

P3) There can be no radical emergence

First, the word "radical" is apparently meaningless in this assertion. Consciousness is not some separate substance. It is an evolved brain function.

Second, the assertion "There can be no emergence" is contradicted by the evidence.

For instance, life emerged from complex combinations of non-living matter. None of the elements which make up our bodies are alive by themselves.

Does that mean all non-living matter is really living? No it obviously does not.

Consciousness emerges from life, not directly from non-living matter. Non-living matter has no use for consciousness at all.

Consciousness emerges from non-consciousness every time we wake from deep sleep, a coma, or an anesthetic.