Consciousness has long been considered an enigma by philosophers and scientists alike. The “hard problem” of consciousness, coined by philosopher David Chalmers, questions why we have subjective experiences. However, recent studies on sea slugs reveal that the distinction between objective and subjective processes may be an illusion.
Researchers Kukushkin and others argue that consciousness emerges naturally from brain processes, mirroring those in simple nervous systems like sea slugs. By studying the neural activity of these creatures, scientists can decipher complex patterns and meanings, including individual words and personalities. For example, place cells in rat brains fire when animals think about specific locations, suggesting a direct link between the physical and mental realms.
Cognitive neuroscientists Karl Friston and Andy Clark propose that the wall separating objective and subjective processes doesn’t exist. The brain is a complex biological machine with built-in abstraction and memory, which generates consciousness as part of its processing. This view challenges Chalmers’s hard problem, suggesting that the distinction between external and internal perspectives is merely a matter of perspective.
The study of sea slugs has shed light on this topic by demonstrating that subjective experiences can be understood through objective processes. The terms “essence” and “idea” become blurred when considering these creatures’ neural activity. From an external view, abstractions are essences; from the slug’s internal perspective, they’re ideas. This blurring highlights how our understanding of human experience is clouded by brain complexity, dissolving long-standing puzzles like the nature of life and death.
The research on sea slugs encourages us to reconsider our perception of consciousness and its relationship with the objective world. By exploring this complex topic from multiple angles, scientists can move closer to a deeper understanding of humanity’s place within the natural world.
Source: https://bigthink.com/books/sea-slugs-and-the-nature-of-consciousness