Re: virus: Together or Not

Tom Parsons (parsonst@icarus.ihug.co.nz)
Tue, 25 Nov 1997 13:55:11 +1300


At 07:14 PM 11/24/97 -0500, you wrote:
>>self-aware consiousness as we know it is a relatively recent phenomenon,
>
>Jaynes puts it somewhere within recorded history, practically....

Quite definitely. He claims that the Trojan war was pre-consciousness, as
were the South Amerinds when conquered by Europeans.

>What then do we make of cave drawings? The Venus statuettes? Ceremonial
>burials?

Jaynes has specific answers.
He also notes that one can accomplish an astonishing amount while
unconscious. Ask any commuter.

>And I'm not unconvinced octopi aren't somewhat self-obsessed....

Me, too. And some other animals, in fits and starts. But I can't see
practical applications of interest to me, even if this is true.

Tom Parsons