Allow me to define consciousness, once in my own words and once from a Webster's dictionary.

~ME~
Consciousness: Lucid mental state from which there arises the possibility of one being aware of one's own existance.

~WEBSTER~
1 a : the quality or state of being aware esp. of something within oneself

b : the state or fact of being conscious of an external object, state, or fact

2 : the state of being characterized by sensation, emotion, volition, and thought : MIND

3 : the totality of conscious states of an individual

4 : the upper level of mental life of which the person is aware as contrasted with unconscious processes

~Definition was quoted from Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online (AOL Keyword; "dictionary"). I omitted two sub-definitions as they served no purpose to this dicussion; one dealt with conscious involvment in political/social structure & such... and the other was regaining consciousness.

All I want to know is... why is it necessary for one's own awareness to be snuffed out, just because all chemical reactions have subsisded? Do you truly know where consciousness comes from? Sure the brain is the main candidate for consciousness but then again, how do we know actual "awareness" needs a brain at all? Perhaps the brain just takes on the multifunctional task of "routing" this awareness, and focusing its attention where need be (like instinct & survival, the five senses, itellectual cabilities, etc.).

Alex, I in no way intend to be a smart-aleck so please don't take offense...
but if you believe that chemical reactions are responsible for the origin and the ultimate demise of consciousness, thereby negating the possibility of an afterlife... then I'm going to have to turn the tables on you for once, and ask you for cold hard facts and equations.

• Facts and equations? How about biology textbook? - alexander - October 19, 2001 - 17:57 UTC
  • According to my defintion - smartguy - October 19, 2001 - 18:29 UTC
    • If you were without sensors, you could not know your existence. - alexander - October 19, 2001 - 19:17 UTC
      • But having once had sensors, and then being without... - smartguy - October 19, 2001 - 19:34 UTC
      • This is the most lucid thing.. - luis_hamburgh - October 19, 2001 - 23:02 UTC
• RE: "Do you truly know where consciousness comes from?" - luis_hamburgh - October 19, 2001 - 23:09 UTC
  • "Do You Truly Know Where [TV Programs Come] From?" - pmartin - October 20, 2001 - 00:13 UTC
  • Luis... different brain = different person? - smartguy - October 20, 2001 - 00:54 UTC
    • I don't think so. - luis_hamburgh - October 21, 2001 - 20:52 UTC
      • Feynman's comment on mind - pmartin - October 22, 2001 - 03:01 UTC
        • Oops. I forgot the page number. It's 244. (NT) - pmartin - October 22, 2001 - 03:06 UTC