I see your point about anthropomorphism. I would argue that science and philosophy also fall into this trap very frequently, of elevating Humanity in ways that that may or may not be justified
I’m of several views with this. In one of them, I’m a fan of systems thinking, and if Consciousness is the result of a system that operates on materials or with materials or through materials, there may or may not be any specific type of materials that are required.
A view of things that sees Consciousness as an emergent property of our particular human nervous system, It does not automatically entail that it is restricted to our system and could be also found elsewhere via other materials or at the very least, other species to different degrees. Humans are not the first species with these traits, we just are most accustomed to our style of consciousness.
Regardless, consciousness as an emergent property of complexity, or sparse networks, or feedback loops, or biochemicals squirting at each other in brain tissue flowing around – whatever it may be, is a naturalistic view of consciousness.
Yet, what allows for consciousness, this ill-defined nebulous phantom of a concept – or “conscious-ing” – as an active process that is more a “doing” than a “being” thing – to emerge at all? If it is a natural property of the Universe for consciousness to emerge under certain conditions that allow for such a thing, to what might one direct a natural expression of gratitude?
Naturalistic pantheism which allows for the notion of “the Universe itself” to be the everything there is, is entirely compatible with a naturalist view of the Universe. From that view, when science educators talk of “The Wonders of the Universe” with a sparkle in their eye, I’d argue that they’re expressing pantheistic tendencies. There’s no need to use particular magic words like God; the expression of wonder and awe and gratitude are functionally equivalent in most aspects allowing for naturalism and naturalistic pantheism to nearly completely overlap.
That is one view I hold among others. I lean towards a panentheistic view which allows for a distinct divinity and material universe whereby the divinity is running in parallel and through material things. It is also functionally equivalent in most aspects to a naturalistic view – some have argued that Carl Sagan was more panentheist than pantheist – nothing would functionally change if I’m wrong about panentheism. It may seem like an “extra step” but it prevents me needing to argue “science vs religion” because I can find panentheistic views within most world religions in SOME fashion – even if they differ in fundamentals or at their extremes – certainly enough to be able to avoid arguing “how many angels on a pin?” type of things that we don’t have empirical access to solve.
But beyond the pragmatic social aspect of holding a science-compatible religious view, it also allows for a communications destination for moments or prayer or concern – those moments in life where one is shaking their fist at the sky, or is traveling down a downward inner spiral that loops and loops upon itself seemingly without end and gives one an escape hatch from that unfortunate flaw (it seems) in human emotional states; you have something to call out to or let go of and become. Whether rescue or acceptance, it can provide relief. For those moments of ecstasy or gratitude, it is a communications destination for those normal human emotions as well. Even if it turns out to be a subprocess of the brain that one is latching onto to ‘break the spell’ of these thought processes in some fashion – or continue them if desired and if it is not representative of some higher Form; it’s certainly pragmatic.
For me what is more significantly useful in holding to a vague ‘something’ view is in those quiet, peaceful moments. Right now, I am sitting on my back lanai on my computer in a screen room with a roof. It is 8:14am. The temperature is chilly and I have a jacket, pants, hat and shoes when just yesterday it was shorts and a t-shirt. The air conditioner is not running. I live in the woods (Collier County, FL, just north of the Everglades). I hear birds chirping. Squirrels are playing in a cloth hammock, making it jump around. The light is playing off the trees that are slowly turning brown for the winter. It is a moment of quietude and peace, giving my mind space to complete these thoughts. I am grateful. Grateful to be born and witness to this strange world. Grateful to be typing right now. Grateful to be have these thoughts and feelings that I do. Whether I call what I thank randomness or the Universe, or circumstance / happenstance or God, it is functionally equivalent and it acts like there are invisible communication lines coming out from me to places and times and I am connected to this world and universe I am temporarily inhabiting and the communication is multiple, parallel, bidirectional and fulfilling. I know it will only last for a moment longer before somebody bursts out the door needing something. I know it could be simulated with drugs or a magnetic cranial stimulation. But none of that takes away from this sense of quietude and connectedness.
Now a black cat has run in here, run up to my face and meowed very loudly demanding to be let in (it’s cold!), the spell is a little broken. But as you ask “Who cares?” – I care because I know that this little moment is available for people around the planet for thousands of years, each enriched by a plentitude of narratives supporting it. Religion may or may not be required for such moments but for whatever reasons, humans seem to naturally do such things anyway. My functionalist perspective here may not satisfactorily address your concerns entirely but I hope it addresses some. Thank you for the perspective affording me the opportunity to express myself in these ways.
WC: 1004
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