Unlike the "easy problems" of explaining animal behavior or understanding which processes in the brain give rise to which functions, the hard problem lies in understanding why some of these physical processes have an experience associated with them at all.
Why do certain configurations of matter cause that matter to light up with awareness?
I don't know. And nor does anybody else at the moment. And I agree.
There are innumerable gem moments in the book. But Harris closes on an upbeat, familiar tone that reminds me of an episode from Cosmos, with Carl Sagan and Vangelis. One recalls how he reminded viewers like us that "we are star stuff," literally composed of the very same elements as stars. (I tear up thinking about it.) Panpsychism brings us even closer. Harris writes:
From our current vantage point, it seems unlikely that we will ever arrive at a true understanding of consciousness. However, we may well be wrong about the absolute boundaries of knowledge. Humanity is young, and we've barely begun to understand our place in the cosmos. As we continue to look out from our planet and contemplate the nature of reality, we should remember that there is a mystery right here where we stand.
Mystery, all right, and I agree.
Conscious is a lovely book and well worth the read. It makes you think laterally in such a way that you never want to see 'literally' again. I very much endorse its propositions and intelligent discussion.
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