Consciousness and Reality: A Symbiotic Relationship

[prettycrimes]

Hello,
I am working outside the world of science, and would love to get input.

for a book I am working on I want to try and find an example in science, ideally astronomy, that illustrates two separate things which require/are dependent on each other. but not a parasitic relationship! no negative connotations... the two objects/animals/etc. would have to be equal in stature.

one idea we had was a binary star. this would work, but ultimately, what I need is a short, provocative text for a lay audience that speaks to this issue.

I apologize for this Hollywood style request.

 

[tiny-tim]

welcome to pf!

hello prettycrimes! welcome to pf!

how about chemical boding between two atoms? (see eg http://www.chemistry.mcmaster.ca/esam/Chapter_6/section_1.html" )

 

[Buckethead]

I have the ultimate answer to that one. Consciousness and reality. Don't laugh, I'm serious. Start with consciousness, and by that I mean the knowledge we have that we are at a place and a time whatever that place and time might be. Consciousness would be unrecognizable if it were not for the fact that it is enveloped inside of it's compliment, reality. Without reality to give consciousness substance, consciousness could not exist in any way shape or form.

On the opposite side is physical reality, that which is made up of matter and energy as we know it. Imagine reality without consciousness and you cannot imagine anything at all. Matter/energy without a place in time or a place in space could not possibly exist. You need consciousness to nail down a time and nail down a place. Matter/energy, or reality, is simply a non-starter unless it has consciouness to support it's very existence.

This is totally my opinion but I stick by it royally and if you think about it, you'll see why.