[Alamo-Girl]

One more excerpt from the same link (Penrose):

15.3 As must be clear from the preceding remarks, I do not believe that any real progress will be achieved towards solving the mysteries of how mental phenomena fit in with the physical universe until there are some important changes in our picture of physical reality. Perhaps these developments will lead to a theory in which "consciousness" finds some place within the purely physical descriptions of the world. One is reminded of such ideas as "panpsychism" (like those of Leibniz, Spinoza, or Whitehead), where consciousness may play its part within the processes of physical action at its deepest levels. I do not have strong opinions as to the significance of such ideas, mainly because I have not studied them in detail. But I suspect the truth to have a much more compelling grandeur to it than any set of ideas that I have seen so far.

[js1138]

Just curious: Aside from the fact that we can't model the observable behavior of the brain, do you personally believe there is something going on other than material processes?

Allowing for the fact that "matter" is pretty weird stuff at the quantum level.

[Phaedrus]

Penrose: But I suspect the truth to have a much more compelling grandeur to it than any set of ideas that I have seen so far.

My sneaking suspicion is that the philosphers are patiently waiting for the scientists and that those philosphers would include Buddha and Jesus.

[betty boop]

One is reminded of such ideas as "panpsychism" (like those of Leibniz, Spinoza, or Whitehead), where consciousness may play its part within the processes of physical action at its deepest levels.

I am going to have to get my hands on Penrose!!! Please recommend a title to get me started, A-G?

The above quote is tantalizing.... Earlier on this thread, someone wrote that atoms do not possess consciousness or some such remark. I didn't challenge that; but really when you think about it, there's really no way to know at this point. So I wouldn't "rule it in" or "rule it out."