Synopsis:
- Consciousness is not a separate substance, but the world in its relationship with the organism
- Consciousness is in the world, outside the organism
- Objects of the environment are colored, beautiful, etc: that "is" consciousness
- Objects do not exist per se, they are just the way an organism perceives the environment
- It is our acting in the environment that determines what we perceive as objects
- Different organisms may perceive different objects
- The environment results from the actions of the organism
- We are actors as well as observers (of the consequences of our actions)
- Any change in the organism results in a change of the environment.
- Those objects have qualities and values that constitute what we call "consciousness"
- Consciousness is not a brain process: the switch that turns consciousness on or off is a brain process
- Consciousness is pervasive but only social species can report on their conscious experiences
- A self always belongs to a society of selves
- Consciousness is a product of socialization among biological organisms
- The mind is socially constructed: society constitutes an individual as much as the individual constitutes society
|
