Self and Consciousness

Zeman’s (brain science) 3 institutions  get main points and conclusion for test
Consciousness is robust (real enough) to deserve explanation
Consciousness as sea in which we swim
Consciousness is bound up with our physical being – specifically the brain
Consciousness matters (makes a difference)
Is consciousness real? Is it worth studying?
Start out as intuitions that we have experiences of consciousness
How/ why does it matter to sociologists?
Is it part of the self?
Does it encompass the self?
Make intersubjectivity possible?
Distinguish us as unique from other life?
Rooted in language?
How influenced by social environment?
Implications for social organization and structure…
May be diff depending on the conclusions we come to bout the study we have on consciousness
Diff theories- neurobiological and information processing
James and Baars “global workspace” of selective attention and primary working memory that can be broadcast through nervous system organism
Selecting and processing info and storing that info such that it comes to second nature
Subconscious dreaming Spanish example (teach really good at span in her sleep but not when awake b/c she is consciously thinking bout if its right and how to say
Even though we have access to more than we store in memory we still don’t know how accurate it is b/c it is from 1 (your) perspective
Make stuff up to fill in the gaps we have to make it satisfying
Data is processed- constantly taking in data from fingers, arms, legs, etc. and sent to brain
Upright stance shortened distance so that consciousness made possible
How defined?
Walking state
See continuum of consciousness
Behavioral state? Of wakefulness
Responsiveness: some automatic and some chosen
Experience - consciousness of what?
Content of experience from one moment to the next
Smell, sight, brightness, temperature, etc.
More subjective? Qualia  look up
Possession of any mental state (mind)
Is to have mind enough to be