Are We Zeroing In on the Hard Problem of Explaining Consciousness?

[Kadri]

David Chalmers looks  here a little like the zombies he mentions (watch the video)
I wonder when we know all about Consciousness  if at all (if we live long enough we will) !

http://hplusmagazine.com/articles/neuro/are-we-zeroing-hard-problem-explaining-consciousness

[Rhalph]

Argh, I hate it when science comes with a very good explanation like this. It destroys my hopes of an afterlife

[Henry Blewer]

Science is a theory and belief system like so many things we use and have used to explain things. Useful, but don't confuse scientific knowledge with what is actually real. We may be using a screw driver for a hammer.

[domdib]

Yes, I'm with njeneb on this one - I did some philosophy of science at University, which underlines how fallible science is, just like any other human system. So I wouldn't worry too much about it disproving an afterlife.

[Rhalph]

Yes, that's right.

I'm going to try to explain... Basically, I need some mysticism in my life.
The problem is that I have a scientific formation, I think with science, therefore I am unable to believe in non "materialism" things without having at least experienced it. And that never happened.
So the nearest mystical thing that I hope to believe in is all that science can't explain yet. Like consciousness... And science comes with more and more explanations for everything (I don't say these explanations are the truth, just that they exist and thus become more convincing for me than the mystical version). So I have less and less potential mystical things to believe in. And that makes me sad.

(I don't know if I am clear, as english is not my mother tongue ^^')

[Kadri]

Afterlife would be nice ! I would like to see my father again...

And it would be nice if Santa was real ! i wish !
But as you grow up and learn some things you see that the world isn't as you think or want to be ! At least for me.

[Henry Blewer]

Find some books about North American Indian belief systems. Their philosophies can be very enlightening. They gave me a strong spirituality and provide inspiration.

[Kadri]

You may find tranquility or answers , but not always together. Religion brings mostly tranquility . This doesn't satisfy me .
I want to know everything . And science has more answers then religion . 2000 years earlier religion was maybe enough .
But now ? I say no , you may say yes. This is not a problem for me , but not a right answer either (for me) 

[Oshyan]

Rhalph, what you say makes perfect sense, and actually echoes my own feelings quite strongly. Very interesting.

- Oshyan

[matrix2003]

I just read about a thirteen year old Croatian schoolgirl who slipped into a coma. Luckily she came around quickly and amazed her Dr's with a full recovery. The one quirk here was when she regained consciousness she did not speak in her native language.  She had been studying German at school, but awoke only communicating in German, fluent German!  A couple hundred years ago they would have considered this a religious event, perhaps a miracle.  Some cultures would have minimally exorcised her, others may have stoned her or attacked her for being possessed, a witch, or some other aberration. Luckily advances in science may save us all, but this may also chip away at traditional beliefs.  In the US right now there is a right wing lunatic fringe calling them selves the "tea-party".

   If they had things their way, they would like to declare science sorcery!       "STONE THE GIRL WHO SPEAKS IN TONGUES"