panpsychism: is it possible to think about nothing? | is consciousness fundamental?
There is a new query on consciousness in The Guardian, Is it possible to think about nothing?, adding that “Surely our consciousness is always whirring away.”
In current neuroscience, as advanced as the field is, there is no established mechanism of how thoughts work, unlike the extensive details in other aspects related to medicine, including physiology and anatomy. An approach to the question of thinking comes from conceptual brain science, with usefulness to mental health.
Thinking, like all major functions of the brain, is directly processed by the electrical and chemical impulses of nerve cells. Memory, feelings, emotions, regulation of internal senses, perceptions, sensations and so forth are all mechanized by the electrical and chemical impulses of nerve cells.
It is this observation that leads to the theoretical definition of the human mind as the collection of all the electrical and chemical impulses of nerve cells, with their features and interactions, in sets.
Wherever there are impulses of nerve cells in the CNS [Central Nervous System — brain and spinal cord] and PNS [Peripheral Nervous System — across the body aside the CNS], is the mind.
Everything else, aside impulses, is the body. This is the distinction for the mind and body, or an answer to the mind-body problem.
Neuroscience has established that neurons are often in clusters. In the CNS, a cluster is called a nucleus, clusters are called nuclei. In the PNS, a cluster is a ganglion, clusters are called ganglia.
It is theorized that in clusters of neurons, electrical and chemical impulses are in sets. It is in these sets that they interact to define functions. Their features are the same and their interactions are similar, across the CNS and PNS, conceptually. Their interaction is their basic function, which is how electrical impulses strike to fuse briefly with chemical impulses within a set to access the configuration held by the chemical impulse for a function.
It is postulated that the reason the brain is more important for the mind than anywhere else is because there are more sets [stations for stops] than for mere relays. This means that in other sets of impulses across, many often just aid conveyance, or maintain a constant configuration — which could be within or from elsewhere. However, several sets in the brain are original configuration stops, where they may change or give what they solely have — which can also change, not just as constant as elsewhere. This means that when distribution gets to some sets of impulses within the brain, they often have far more influence than others, elsewhere. These sets within the brain also have more qualifiers, whose uniqueness can be made available in relay to other sets, elsewhere. The established qualifiers ensure the functions are directed from the sets of impulses within the brain and spread to other sets elsewhere in the CNS, and in the PNS.
Features qualify functions. Qualifiers include intent, attention, awareness, principal spot, distribution, arrays and so on. The collection of all these qualifiers of functions of mind can be termed consciousness, the super qualifier.
What is labeled as thought, works the same way for several other things not labeled as thought. Seeing something and knowing what it is, but not thinking about it, has the same pathway as when it was seen, known and thought about. So, while not thinking about an ambient sound, it is processed the same way as thinking.
Two of the paths to [the function] thinking are intent and non-intent. Intent is postulated to be a feature or qualifier of the function of a set of impulses. Non-intent is postulated to result from an array of sets of impulses, with how an output from one is distributed to another.
Simply, intent, control or free will is a factor within the function, while non-intent, reflex or autonomous action is a factor in how sets of impulses are arrayed, and the output of one gets distributed to the next or others.
Non-intent happens in dreams, sometimes, with correlation to reality and sometimes not. It is also possible to think about scenes in dreams intentionally as well. Intent is possible for functions, where spaces for it, between the chemical impulses are available, in the configuration of a set. This is why it is possible to move the hands, legs, blink, speak or not, stand or sit, and so forth, for those who can. It is not possible to use intent for several other functions, since those spaces are not available there, conceptually.
Is it Possible to Think About Nothing?
This question may have also been framed in two other ways: Is it possible not to have one thought to just keep repeating [or intrusive]? Is it possible for a thought not to bear an emotional tag.
There are several interpretations of the external world by the mind, everyday, coming in the form of thoughts, but they neither stay nor bear any emotional cast, so they are rarely a problem.
In explaining cases where it seems like thinking stops, meditation can be conceptually explored. It is possible to start or stop breathing. It is also possible to, by intent, breathe faster. Some meditation recommends closing the eyes, being in a still environment and focusing on breathing so as not to think.
Thinking hiatus is usually achieved by using intent to prioritize [or give attention to] breathing as a function of mind. It is this attention that is used to prevent other thoughts from taking over or lingering, in that instance. However, thoughts often come. The challenge is to quickly revert attention to breathing to regain the state.
Because there is only one prioritized [set of impulses or] process in the mind at any moment and there are several pre-prioritized [or awareness] vying for a place, some sets of impulses or some functions may take attention, too.
All thoughts operate from memory. Or, take from what is in memory. This means that memory is a function, thoughts are obtained when those functions are qualified, resulting in needed stuff coming to mind, in moments.
Some thoughts are not only distributed to memory, but to emotional contents, which could be for delight or sadness. Some also peg into a whirling array that makes them keep repeating.
An option to prevent emotional strain is to find alternative ways to think about things. It may not work immediately, but may curtail the emotional pulley. An alternative to repeating thoughts is to use intent to still the mind, or direct it elsewhere.
Thought problems has resulted in substance abuse for some people, as well as mental disorders, including existential depression that leads to fatal self-harm.
It is possible to use intent to situate thoughts, as well as diversions, with physical activities, to prevent its problems from disrupting social and occupational functioning. This theoretical neuroscience pathway, as an insight into the mind, may add potency to efforts.
Thinking about nothing for a while is doable, but thinking, alone, is rarely the problem.
Is Consciousness Fundamental?
Panpsychism describes that mind or mental state is fundamental to reality or to matter. But the mind, at least, of humans, is the standard. How does the human mind work, that aspects related to it can be found everywhere?
There has to be functions and there has to be qualifiers to have the mind and to have consciousness. Functions are not the problem, where for example, a table stays in shape, given its molecules functioning, so does steel, a fan and so on. The molecules of these objects have no qualifiers to their functions, to make them at least have anything that resembles a mind.
A fan has a controller. It does not mean it qualifies the function of the fan, because the function of the controller is to function for that control. What qualifiers it is human input, for use or not. The same for changes in wood, where with cold or heat, there could be some change of state. This means that the molecules are externally qualified, not internally.
A cell is different, which has functions within and has qualifiers. A group of cells is also different. LLMs are also different in how they qualify digital memory.
Functions are everywhere. Molecules are in constant motion. But what sets anything apart for what might seem like a mind, is the range of qualifications.
Panpsychism is inaccurate because qualifications of functions are not everywhere. The sun is not conscious. It has functions, but no qualifications, that bear similarity to what the mind does. The stars, asteroids, universe and others are also not conscious. Consciousness is not fundamental, when compared to the human mind.
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