more on this theme | more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
The conscious 'dynamic core' of the brain can maintain its unity over time even if its composition may be constantly changing, which is the signature of a process as opposed to a thing.
Gist of Idea
Consciousness is a process, not a thing, as it maintains unity as its composition changes
Source
G Edelman / G Tononi (Consciousness: matter becomes imagination [2000], Ch.12)
Book Ref
Edelman,G/Tononi,G: 'Consciousness: how matter becomes imagination' [Penguin 2000], p.152
A Reaction
This is the functionalists' claim that the mind is 'multiply realisable', since different neurons can maintain the same process. 'Process' strikes me as a much better word than 'function'. These theories capture passive mental life better than active.