"I would suggest that the higher the number of potential if-then statements (in other words, the higher the intelligence) the higher the sensation of consciousness. For example, humans with our complex brains are the only known species that thinks actively about its own mortality. "If I die, then I will no longer exist." Humans, and a few species of ape and dolphin are the only species that can truly recognize themselves in a mirror. "If that other guy looks like me and moves like me in every way, then it must be me." See what I'm getting at? It's incredibly complex, and I AM oversimplifying it, but I think the mechanics are the same."

It's not as simple as everyone wants it to be. It's far more complex and very difficult to explain. The reason Dolphins or humans etc, know that they are looking at a mirror, is because they have conscience of what they are doing while looking at the mirror. A dog for example, looks at a mirror while he wiggles his tail, but yet has no consideration that he is doing it. All he see's is another dog wiggling his tail. He might feel his tail wiggling, he might know he's doing it, but he doesn't have the consideration that his tail is the one he see's moving on the mirror.


Also, if a human looks at a clear window, and sees another person which looks exaclty like him and even moves everything exaclty the same as him, he will assume he's looking at a mirror, even if it isn't one.



"If the impulse to impress your pals (and improve your "standing") is greater than the impulse to protect yourself from pain, then you will inflict some type of wound upon yourself. Note than the degree of pain involved is a factor here. If someone dared his friend to drink hot coffee, it might be done, depending on his desire to be accepted. If someone told his friend to cut on his hand with a rusty hacksaw, chances are that would not be done, because the desire to preserve your hand is greater than the desire to preserve your "friendship." Its stil the same premise."



Some people do certain weird things in order to impress their friends, but this is not always the case. Or some poeple might be crazy and do it because they are crazy, but this again is not always the case either. There has been numerous reports and interviews of people who just like pain. Not to impress, or because they are crazy, but because they just like it. Some like to stick long metal needled through their triceps, penis, and other body parts of the body. Pain is not the only weird thing some people like, but consider fetishes. Some people like to smell dirty shoes, lick feet, dirty underwear, and some people even like to eat sh*t, and even like to get peed at.

There are so many philosophical complications of the human mind, it is extremely difficult to try to explain.

• I agree with you on the level of complexity - stormcrow - July 6, 2001 - 04:17 UTC
  • Not crossed wires - highvoltage - July 6, 2001 - 05:39 UTC
  • I disagree about you saying that pople have no free-will. - motumos - July 6, 2001 - 05:50 UTC
    • Actually atomic bomb was against Stalin's growing power. - alexander - July 6, 2001 - 16:58 UTC
      • It was a choice nontheless - caprinicus - July 7, 2001 - 00:23 UTC
      • Even you typing this reply was a choice, not a necessity. - caprinicus - July 7, 2001 - 00:34 UTC
        • Not neccesarily - stormcrow - July 7, 2001 - 02:34 UTC
          • I don't think so - highvoltage - July 7, 2001 - 03:32 UTC
          • Free will works regardless of normal DNA in humans. - caprinicus - July 7, 2001 - 03:52 UTC
            • I'll try and explain - stormcrow - July 7, 2001 - 13:55 UTC
              • Wrong again. - caprinicus - July 8, 2001 - 13:08 UTC
                • Omni-Post - stormcrow - July 9, 2001 - 00:17 UTC
                  • God-days may be true - highvoltage - July 9, 2001 - 05:22 UTC
                    • Sure, back it up - stormcrow - July 9, 2001 - 13:40 UTC
                      • God days.... - highvoltage - July 9, 2001 - 17:07 UTC
                        • I see your point, but doesn't this prove the Bible's ambiguity? - stormcrow - July 9, 2001 - 19:31 UTC
                          • Doens't prove the bible's ambiguity - highvoltage - July 9, 2001 - 20:16 UTC
                            • Bible is full of impossible phenomena. - alexander - July 9, 2001 - 20:43 UTC
                              • again proof - terry - November 15, 2001 - 12:36 UTC
                • Caprinicus - you don't know how brain, universe, etc works. - alexander - July 9, 2001 - 18:43 UTC