• Question: How does the brain generate consciousness?

    Asked by The Ge Ni U S to Andrew, Jade, Jessica, Kevin, Lynn on 22 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Jess Wade

      Jess Wade answered on 22 Jun 2015:

      In short- it makes us human. Consciousness is the state of being aware and responding to the world around us. As a field of science, they aren’t sure where the mind ends and the brain begins- do we have souls? Where do they live? What makes us feel things? We’re trying to figure out why we don’t have to think to breath or maintain our heartbeat. Then there is the question of free will- do we ever really make up our minds to do anything? I don’t really believe the brain generates consciousness- i think that we act without it doing anything.

    • Photo: Kevin Honeychurch

      Kevin Honeychurch answered on 23 Jun 2015:

      Woo! A great question. I think that people have been wondering about this since way back.
      Consciousness cannot be observed in the way that material objects around us can. Difficult to weigh, measure, or otherwise pinned down.

      Science has tried to get universal objective truths independent of the observer’s viewpoint or views. Consequently, scientists have deliberately avoided subjective things. It is a troublesome subject for science I feel.

      In relation to this, I was listening to a podcast radio program about a man called Bishop Barkley. I had to listen to this several times, bit mind blowing:

      http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03y36vr

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