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Single Idea 4939
[filed under theme 16. Persons / E. Rejecting the Self / 2. Self as Social Construct
]
Full Idea
Two extreme views on the development of the self are 'internalist' and 'externalist'. The first starts with a baby's subjective experience, and increasing differentiation as self-consciousness develops. The externalist view requires language and society.
Gist of Idea
A sense of self begins either internally, or externally through language and society
Source
G Edelman / G Tononi (Consciousness: matter becomes imagination [2000], Ch.15)
Book Ref
Edelman,G/Tononi,G: 'Consciousness: how matter becomes imagination' [Penguin 2000], p.197
A Reaction
Edelman rightly warns against this simple dichotomy, but if I have to vote, it is for internalism. I take a sense of self as basic to any mind, even a slug's. What is a mind for, if not to look after the creature? Self makes sensation into mind.
The
21 ideas
from G Edelman / G Tononi
5793
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Concepts and generalisations result from brain 'global mapping' by 'reentry'
[Edelman/Tononi, by Searle]
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4922
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Consciousness involves interaction with persons and the world, as well as brain functions
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4924
|
A conscious human being rapidly reunifies its mind after any damage to the brain
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4923
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The three essentials of conscious experience are privateness, unity and informativeness
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4925
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Brains can initiate free actions before the person is aware of their own decision
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4926
|
Concepts arise when the brain maps its own activities
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4929
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Dreams and imagery show the brain can generate awareness and meaning without input
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4928
|
Brain complexity balances segregation and integration, like a good team of specialists
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4927
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Information-processing views of the brain assume the existence of 'information', and dubious brain codes
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4933
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Consciousness is a process, not a thing, as it maintains unity as its composition changes
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4930
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Consciousness arises from high speed interactions between clusters of neurons
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4932
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A conscious state endures for about 100 milliseconds, known as the 'specious present'
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4931
|
Consciousness is a process (of neural interactions), not a location, thing, property, connectivity, or activity
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4934
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Cultures have a common core of colour naming, based on three axes of colour pairs
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4935
|
The sensation of red is a point in neural space created by dimensions of neuronal activity
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4936
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The self is founded on bodily awareness centred in the brain stem
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4937
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Systems that generate a sense of value are basic to the primitive brain
[Edelman/Tononi]
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4939
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A sense of self begins either internally, or externally through language and society
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4938
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Prior to language, concepts are universals created by self-mapping of brain activity
[Edelman/Tononi]
|
4940
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Physicists see information as a measure of order, but for biologists it is symbolic exchange between animals
[Edelman/Tononi]
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4941
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Consciousness can create new axioms, but computers can't do that
[Edelman/Tononi]
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