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throwaway12131214121 t1_j37irzd wrote

Reply to comment by Protean_Protein in The Persistent Problem of Consciousness: an astronaut's epiphany by simsquatched

Yes? How’re you gonna gather evidence for something as impossible to measure as consciousness

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Protean_Protein t1_j37ucyq wrote

The same way they’ve figured out how to measure all kinds of other things in medicine—from what happens when things go wrong, or from correlates. E.g., Ramachandran’s work on sensory illusions, or Sacks’ work, or, like, anesthesiology. It’s not simple or easy. It’s extremely difficult and confusing and basically a giant mess. But that doesn’t mean it’s mysterious.

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throwaway12131214121 t1_j3809r6 wrote

That research makes all sorts of philosophical assumptions about consciousness. For example, even the idea that other humans are conscious at all is an assumption.

That doesn’t make it invalid, they’re necessary for the field of medicine if you want to come to any type of conclusion about how to minimize human suffering, which is the whole point of medicine.

But we’re not talking about medicine, we’re talking about philosophy, and those assumptions don’t hold any water in this context.

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Protean_Protein t1_j381olw wrote

I have no idea what you’re talking about. Someone get David Chalmers on the line… I’ll hold.

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