On naturalism and consciousness

[Chas]

As a scientist I think most often using a materialistic framework, especially regarding anything biological. So the position of 'consciousness is a product of matter' is almost axiomatic in biological pursuit.

And yet, I have to say, I find the opposite argument, the philosophy of idealism, equally compelling, that what we call matter is a product of consciousness; matter only has any meaning within consciousness.

But while I am well versed, experienced, and trained, in the methods of the materialist, I am almost completely unskilled as an idealist. I perhaps just catch glimpses of truth about which the idealist has a much greater depth of understanding.

I'd like to think there is benefit to understanding in exploring both paths: consciousness from a naturalistic philosophy, and naturalism from an idealist philosophy. I'm not convinced that they must necessarily be mutually exclusive; I suspect that they may be complementary.

So what of the universe for the 13,7 billion years before out consciousness appeared? "Matter a product of consciousness" is an incoherent concept.