Gaia is a powerful self-conscious inorganic intelligence;
within herself, Gaia runs many self-conscious programs which think that they are human beings living in particular periods of Terrestrial history;
each program perceives a simulated/"emulated" Terrestrial environment including what looks like his or her own body;
the programs remain unaware of their true nature as terminable "emulations" within Gaia.
In the real universe:
the universe becomes conscious of itself in many animal and human organisms;
each organism perceives both itself and an environment that is a small part of the universe;
we perceive real objects although an object as perceived is not the total object (our eyes detect a small cross-section of the electromagnetic spectrum and only on a particular spatiotemporal scale etc);
some human beings either intellectually understand or intuitively realize their oneness with the universe.
Similarities
Each program is Gaia perceiving a particular emulated environment.
Each organism is the universe perceiving a particular environment.
Differences
Gaia as a whole is conscious.
The universe [as a whole] is not. (Addendum: "as a whole" added. See comments.)
4 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I agree with your last comment, the universe, as such, is not conscious. Which contradicts what you earlier said about the universe becoming conscious of itself in animal and human organisms. I argue that only PEOPLE, rational self aware beings, can be aware of both themselves and an "outside" world. And approach some understanding of both. Animals like dogs, cats, chimps, etc., cannot.
Sean
Sean,
Not a contradiction. The universe is not conscious as a whole the way Gaia is. It is only conscious of itself through individual organisms.
Paul.
Sean,
I have amended the post.
Animals perceive their environments and feel bodily sensations like pleasure, pain, hunger, thirst etc. In this sense, they are conscious of their own organisms. But they are not self-conscious and self-reflective like human beings.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
If you mean rational self aware become conscious of themselves and the existence of a universe, I agree. And animals can only perceive pleasure, pain, hunger, thirst, etc. With Mr. Stirling saying in another combox that we now know that at least some animals can feel affection.
Sean
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