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Assuming as we do
throughout these essays that consciousness is non–physical
in nature (we say that it is virtual, or a pure potential,
these terms implying that consciousness is non–material), is
there any way to prove or disprove this idea?
Well, consciousness is claimed to be a quality, invisible
and not measurable. Therefore it cannot be observed or
directly evaluated.
An experiment that purports to show the stupidity of those
who believe in the non-physical basis for consciousness was
performed a few years ago. A psychic who claimed to see
auras was placed in a room with several compartments, whose
doors were closed. The psychic claimed to see auras behind
every doorway. When the doors were opened, the number of
people present was less than the number of compartments,
proving that the psychic was a fake.
Implicit in this experiment however, is the assumption that
only a physical being has an aura. No allowance is made for
the claimed properties of consciousness, which is said to
exist independent of physical bodies. In other words, if
consciousness is non-physical in nature, then non-physical
personalities certainly exist, but the parameters of the
experiment simply assume that consciousness comes in
“lumps,” like physical matter, associated only with physical
containers. It is not permissible to disprove something
empirically simply by ignoring it!
Of course, by the same token, it is impossible to
empirically prove a non-physical basis for consciousness,
for there are no points of reference for it in the physical
universe. It is not measurable.
A
non-physical basis for self–awareness is simply assumed and
assigned to something ephemeral called “consciousness,”
which is also impermissible experimentally. It is claimed
without objective proof that although consciousness cannot
be measured, its effects on physical objects are measurable.
This empirically illogical reasoning (coupled with the fact
that charlatans are known to exist) drives some scientists
and skeptics batty, which is quite understandable.
Nevertheless, we must admit a draw in this debate, for there
are plenty of data fudgers, swindlers and con artists even
in medical and scientific disciplines.
In short, if consciousness has a non-physical basis, it is
automatically outside the realm of empirical proof or
disproof. Intellectually, those on both sides of the debate
must agree to disagree.
In these essays, we just assume a non-physical basis for
consciousness without even trying to prove it.
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