Does Matter Create Consciousness? Or Vice Versa?

[Mudhammam]

I believe matter creates consciousness but there are the mysticism-types who believe everything is energy and the brain is actually just translating all of that into the objects of our conscious mind, to which some extent is evidently true (those who have taken mushrooms or LSD or gotten very drunk/high can attest). I believe it goes back to the Neils Bohr model for quantum physics. Anyway, does our conscious mind create matter through different energy patterns entering our neural preceptors? Or is the model of reality you conceive actually the by-product of external matter around you? I think this is kind of a philosophy of science question. Thoughts?

[Ben Davis]

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I believe matter creates consciousness but there are the mysticism-types who believe everything is energy and the brain is actually just translating all of that into the objects of our conscious mind, to which some extent is evidently true (those who have taken mushrooms or LSD or gotten very drunk/high can attest). I believe it goes back to the Neils Bohr model for quantum physics. Anyway, does our conscious mind create matter through different energy patterns entering our neural preceptors? Or is the model of reality you conceive actually the by-product of external matter around you? I think this is kind of a philosophy of science question. Thoughts?

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Nope, it's an empirical question. And you're thinking of the 'Copenhagen Misinterpretations', commonly used by those who want to peddle particular brands of mystical nonsense. 'Consciousness' or 'force of will', if you prefer, has no control over the outcomes of quantum events. It's not even necessary for a 'consciousness' to be an observer: experimentally, we've demonstrated that other quantum events can cause reconciliation of quantum states (e.g entanglement).

[feeling]

I've seen plenty of evidence which suggests that matter creates consciousness and no evidence to the contrary so far.

[Clueless Morgan]

In every example we have of consciousness, it is dependent on the existence of a material brain. So, to my best of my, or anyone else's, knowledge at the present time, yes, matter creates consciousness. The only caveat that I can think of to this statement is the possibility that brains and consciousness evolved in a symbiotic relationship so that it's virtually impossible to delineate the emergence of one from the other, but even that fails, I think, in light of the fact that it's very clear that matter existed before consciousness (life) existed, so I still say yes, matter gives rise to consciousness.

[downbeatplumb]

Consciousness has never been shown to be anything but the brain doing its thing.

[Chas]

Since matter predates consciousness, I'm going with the former.

[Ksa]

I believe matter creates consciousness but there are the mysticism-types who believe everything is energy and the brain is actually just translating all of that into the objects of our conscious mind, to which some extent is evidently true (those who have taken mushrooms or LSD or gotten very drunk/high can attest). I believe it goes back to the Neils Bohr model for quantum physics. Anyway, does our conscious mind create matter through different energy patterns entering our neural preceptors? Or is the model of reality you conceive actually the by-product of external matter around you? I think this is kind of a philosophy of science question. Thoughts?

All that I know is that LSD alters your perception, it never helps anyone see things more clearly. It's not like you suddenly can see new things that you weren't able to, you're imagining things that don't exist.

[Violet]

Consciousness IS matter. Matter doesn't have to do anything... it is, and that's how it is.

[MindForgedManacle]

This all depends on your interpretation of quantum mechanics. I've seen it claimed (and seemingly adequately backed up) that quantum mechanics presupposes a conscious observer outside of the applicability of its laws.

[Chas]

This all depends on your interpretation of quantum mechanics. I've seen it claimed (and seemingly adequately backed up) that quantum mechanics presupposes a conscious observer outside of the applicability of its laws.

That's one of many interpretations, and the least supported by evidence or reason.