Does it make sense to speak of "Universal Consciousness" or "Universal Intelligence"?

[bennyboy]

Not exactly. I say mind is an emergent phenomenon of complexity of a particular kind. The only example of which we know is the brain. And, yes, qualia is not anything separate from mind, is is just the experience of consciousness.

You say that qualia are a property of the mind. Would it not be equally true to say that the mind is a descriptive word for a collection of qualia? If the latter, then the question is this-- what is the minimal structure or function required to have even a minimal "atomic" qualia?

No, you wouldn't because it is a basic logical error. You can't go from "there exists X" to "for all X", that is an error.

"There exists mind in brains" to "for all minds, there is a brain" doesn't work? I'm pretty sure if I go back about 4 pages, I'll find people saying exactly that.

Not just any matter is capable, only matter connected and working at a sufficient level of complexity. In fact, we can't even say that matter is required - just complexity.

You are stating with the air that it's a fact something which is not known to be a fact. Until you can tell me by what scientific criteria it is established that a physical structure has a mind, then there's no way to know whether an atom, or even a QM particle, isn't to some degree "aware" of the interactions it undergoes.

You say that a "sufficient" level of complexity is required. I suspect that the only complexity required is the transmission or reception of photons, and a subsequent change in state. You suspect that a complex system of information is required.

How will it be determined who is correct?

It DOES, however, tell us very much about how changes to brain structure and function can affect the CONTENT of our subjective experience.

I wouldn't completely agree with that; changes to the brain can change our qualia and even create experience.
[/quote]Maybe. But they don't explain the fact of experience rather than the lack of it. I want to see how any collection of non-experiencing particles leads to one which experiences. What's the mechanism?