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  Meanings of ‘Consciousness’
“Consciousness” is notoriously difficult to define, and, as you suggest, is frequently a source of misunderstanding. Even professionals in the field of consciousness studies get confused, adding to widespread lack of clarity. I will do my best to ”cut through the tangle” by clarifying different meanings, and by identifying the most basic meanings. First, let’s look at two quite different meanings: a simple “outsider’s” and a more technical “insider’s” meaning of consciousness. (By “outsider,” I mean someone relatively unfamiliar with the field of consciousness studies. By “insider,” I mean someone who has thought about and has studied material concerned with this field.) But I want to be clear: I am not offering a definition of “consciousness” — rather, I'm clarifying different meanings — different ways people actually use the word. I don’t offer a definition for a number of reasons: First, to define is to delimit — and in my experience consciousness does not have limits. Second, “definition” usually means the “right” or “correct” meaning. But who can decide this? It is much better, I think, to take the time to clarify what each of us means whenever we use the word “consciousness.” We don't have to agree on what we mean, but for fruitful communication to take place it is essential that we let others know what we mean when we use the word, and also understand what they mean when they use it. Without such clarity as our starting point, confusion will continue to reign. So, here goes . . . Simple Meaning |
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