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The Brain-Brahman Dichotomy and the Hard Problem of Fourth Consciousness1

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  • Madhu Mangal Chaturvedi Assistant Professor of Philosophy School of Philosophy & Culture Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University

Keywords:

philosophers, Brain-Brahman

Abstract

The primary focus of contemporary debate on consciousness among philosophers and scientists interested in it is the hard problem of consciousness popularized by David Chalmers (1995, 1996). The hard problem of consciousness is to explain how phenomenal reality is generated by its physical/biological constitution. From a predominantly physicalist perspective, the phenomenal reality of consciousness is to beexplained within the framework of materialism: how consciousness originates from the non-conscious physical composition. Thus, contemporary debate focuses on the phenomenal consciousness, which is notoriously eluding attempts to solve it. In the present paper, we take the position that the problem of consciousness is the hardproblem of phenomenal consciousness only when we try to locate it in the brain. However, when we view it from the Advaitic perspective that reality is nothing but pure, absolute and non-dual consciousness, the hard problem of consciousness is no longer the problem of locating phenomenal consciousness in the brain. Instead, it is the problem of reconciling the observed fact of daily life that consciousness is tethered to the individual brain, which has multiple instances with the Advaita view that plurality is an illusion and that reality is non-dual, pure consciousness without the other, called Brahman. So, the hard problem of consciousness is not to explain the origin of consciousness from the physical brain but the origin of multiple consciousness and plurality of material entities from Brahman, the pure, undifferentiated, non-dual, absolute consciousness. That is to say, how the Cosmic, Universal, Brahman-Consciousness is related to experienced individual, particular Brain-Consciousness. In other words, the hard problem of consciousness is explaining the Brain-Brahman dichotomy. It is undoubtedly a challenge for the followers of the Advaita (non-dualistic) Vedanta. In this paper, we aim to contrast the contemporary notion of phenomenal consciousness with the chatushpad or four-foot doctrine of consciousness discussed in the Mandukya Upanishad and further developed by Gaudpada in his Mandukya Karika and Shankar‟s Advaita Vedanta. We aim to show that the phenomenal consciousness is subsumed under the first three states of consciousness of the Self, mentioned in the chatushpad doctrine. The hard problem of consciousness is accounting for the fourth consciousness or Turiya with respect to the Brain-Brahman dichotomy discussed above. In other words, the hardproblem of consciousness is theexpression of the Brain-Brahman Dichotomy. The paper concludes with suggestions on some possible approaches to its solution and future work.

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Posted

2023-09-01

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