Very little is done consciously

**Arra** · 10-21-2012 11:55 PM

It's normally assumed that certain types of actions are consciously done, while other types aren't. Walking, driving and typing, once you've been doing them for long enough, aren't conscious activities. On the other hand, phrasing sentences, deciding to make tea and conversing with someone are generally assumed to be done with conscious intent. I'd like to suggest that a lot of these supposedly conscious actions are sometimes not done consciously at all.

A surprising number of actions are performed subconsciously. There is plenty going on in your field of vision, yet you're only focused on these words. You'll notice that you can consciously shift your focus to something else, without even moving your eyes. Furthermore, if some object in the background were to move suddenly, your brain would immediately bring it to your awareness, even though you weren't focusing at all on it before. Similar cases exist concerning hearing, thinking and more.

This isn't very disputable, but there's an implication I'd like to propose, and that is that we give ourselves too much credit. Let's say you're thinking for a while and end up solving some elaborate problem. You now feel like you came up with that entire solution. But, really, if most of the details involved were thought through subconsciously, and if 'you' are only the conscious part of you, then how much credit can you really give yourself?

Your brain is a complex machine which, analogously, can be said to work for your conscious mind. Your consciousness is like the boss of a company with millions of people working under him. The boss might decide it wants something done, the workers accomplish it (although the boss might occasionally intervene so he feels he did something), and then the boss takes all the credit. The consciousness itself isn't capable of much on its own and is really rather stupid.

Furthermore, if you define 'yourself' to be all that your brain is, including subconscious activity, then you must draw the conclusion that you are primarily an unconscious being, which can be unsettling.

Spoiler for other observation, not primary don't have to read:

**tempusername** · 10-22-2012 04:35 AM

YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

You cannot even begin to fathom how infuriatingly destitute it is to behave consciously within a species so ferociously bent on protecting a subconscious-dominated existence.

**Original Poster** · 10-22-2012 05:10 AM

Actions are the tip of the iceberg. The most startling thing to me is how much of our beliefs and expectations are beneath the surface of our consciousness. We not only consciously control very little of what we do, but we don't even consciously control much of what we believe.

Of course identity is an antiquated subject to me anyways.

**Arra** · 10-22-2012 05:20 AM

Originally Posted by tempusername

YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

You cannot even begin to fathom how infuriatingly destitute it is to behave consciously within a species so ferociously bent on protecting a subconscious-dominated existence.

What makes you say the species is "bent on protecting a subconscious-dominated existence"? In my experience most people barely pay attention to their subconscious at all, and it's quite the opposite to what you seem to be saying. An explanation of what you mean would be nice.

**Alric** · 10-23-2012 08:04 AM

It sounds like you are assuming consciousness is a black or white thing. Either your conscious is in control or your subconscious is. I would say there is a great deal of middle ground. Instead of either one or the other, I would say consciousness is like a scale from 0 to 100. 100 being like super focused and 0 being knocked out. Your subconscious would be some middle area and if your focus drops below that point you could say your subconscious is in control.

There is no fundamental difference in what your brain is doing though, it is just a matter of degrees. I see no reason to believe your are only your conscious mind as well. Obviously you are most of your brain. Maybe not all, since you can survive losing small parts of it, but most.

**IndieAnthias** · 10-23-2012 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Dianeva

This isn't very disputable, but there's an implication I'd like to propose, and that is that we give ourselves too much credit............

Isn't this a bit like, if you win a race, saying that your feet should get the credit? I only mean this as an analogy, not to evoke any conversations about the mind-body distinction.

Originally Posted by Dianeva

Furthermore, if you define 'yourself' to be all that your brain is, including subconscious activity, then you must draw the conclusion that you are primarily an unconscious being, which can be unsettling.

I suppose it could be unsettling to some, but if you mean this as an alternative to your previous suggestion, I prefer it.

**Marvo** · 10-23-2012 01:00 PM

Through extension you could argue that our conscious brain is shaped by our subconscious from day one. Ultimately you reach the conclusion that our brain's different levels of consciousness are constantly working together to shape our being.
Just like the runner's argument from above, you can almost always break down some component, and make the point that "this is what defines the whole". Your thinking stopped progressing at a critical point, which resulted in this superficial and poorly thought out garbage you call a thread. Congratulations.