Consciousness

Consciousness is the quality or state of being aware.^[1] To be conscious in the philosophical sense means to have mental processes that are self-directed ^[2] and which provide a locus of subjective experience.^[3] Animals are alleged to possess a form of consciousness ^[4] although this is not necessarily to be equated with the Christian notion of having moral worth or an immortal soul.^[5]

Atheism and the origin of consciousness[edit]

See also: Atheism and consciousness and Origin of human consciousness and Atheism and irrationality

The atheist worldview cannot explain the existence of consciousness, while the theistic worldview can satisfactorily offer a reasonable explanation (see: Atheism and consciousness).^[6]

Consciousness in Buddhism[edit]

Consciousness or Vijnana in Sanskrit is the fifth of the Five aggregates in Buddhist philosophy of mind.

Consciousness in Jainism[edit]

Consciousness or Chetna in Sanskrit is attribute of soul (substance dualism) in Jain philosophy of mind.

References[edit]

1. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consciousness
2. ↑ http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=fDMNg2y9UN8C&pg=PA161&dq=consciousness+"self-directedness"
3. ↑ http://www.consciousentities.com/bats.htm
4. ↑ http://psyche.cs.monash.edu.au/v5/psyche-5-16-saidel.html
5. ↑ http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/448
6. ↑
   • The Argument from Consciousness for the Existence of God*Consciousness: One of Atheism's Irresolvable Problems