Chapter 1: Understanding Consciousness

Consciousness is often regarded as the essence of life itself. It shapes our understanding of existence, meaning, and the material world.

"One never loves enough… for what came through the open door was the realization of Love as the primary and fundamental cosmic fact."

— Aldous Huxley

Albert Camus opens his work, The Myth of Sisyphus, with the assertion that the only philosophical issue worth contemplating is suicide. He questions whether recognizing the absurdity of life undermines our quest for meaning. Ultimately, he concludes that "The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy."

While various factors contribute to happiness and purpose, many individuals lead lives devoid of these elements and yet do not find themselves contemplating suicide. For instance, comedian Dave Chappelle contrasts the tragic fate of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, who ended his life despite a glamorous existence, with a friend who, despite experiencing profound setbacks, finds contentment in a simple job at Footlocker.

Suicide appears to be linked to specific mental health issues, while most people, even those in seemingly meaningless situations, often find a form of satisfaction in simply existing. The essence of this existence is consciousness. If I told you that you would live on, but your consciousness would be extinguished, you might equate that state with death. Conversely, if your body were to perish but your consciousness persisted, you would likely still deem that existence. This begs the question: what do we truly mean by "life after death"?

One might argue that our instinct to continue living is more about survival than consciousness. Life's fundamental rule is to survive and reproduce, a trait shared by all organisms on Earth.

However, separating behavior from consciousness presents challenges, even if it seems a logical outcome of scientific inquiry into the mind. Yuval Noah Harari, in Homo Deus, likens consciousness to the noise of a jet engine, describing it as "mental pollution" that serves no purpose:

…consciousness may be a kind of mental pollution produced by the firing of complex neural networks. It doesn't do anything. It is just there. If this is true, it implies that all the pain and pleasure experienced by billions of creatures for millions of years is just mental pollution. This is certainly a thought worth thinking, even if it isn't true.

This perspective aligns with Camus' reflection on Sisyphus: if the meaning derived from pushing a rock up a hill is what makes life worthwhile, then the act itself might be driven by the dopamine and endorphins released upon reaching the peak. Consciousness merely serves as an observer, akin to the noise produced by the jet engine. Even without consciousness, one could theoretically continue the grind for the fleeting pleasure at the summit.

But is meaning the sole motivator for our actions? Undoubtedly, a sense of meaninglessness can lead to despair, as seen in depression, which often strips away the intrinsic joy derived from meaningful activities. Yet, life's meaning cannot be simply distilled into physical achievements or dopamine surges. It encompasses complex relationships, memories, histories, and a profound sense of purpose that transcends mere biological impulses.

If we accept that consciousness and action are intertwined rather than distinct entities, we might find that they are ultimately facets of the same reality. Many individuals perceive the continuity of consciousness as integral to their existence. Despite rising calls for assisted dying, even those suffering greatly do not typically seek to end their lives. Philosopher Thomas Nagel elaborates in his essay on death:

There are elements which, if added to one's experience, make life better; there are other elements which, if added to one's experience, make life worse. But what remains when these are set aside is not merely neutral: it is emphatically positive. … The additional positive weight is supplied by experience itself, rather than by any of its consequences.

Reflecting on my own perspective, I find that one of the fundamental reasons I wish to continue existing is consciousness itself. Even if I do not engage in any significant endeavors tomorrow, the absence of consciousness would render life devoid of meaning. It is not the meaning itself that is valuable; rather, it is the experience of that meaning. In essence, consciousness acts as the vital force of existence.

But what precisely is consciousness? The elusive nature of consciousness remains a mystery. Harari’s assertion that it is mere "mental pollution" suggests a lack of understanding. If it serves no function, why does it exist? Why do we experience things, and why is that experience inherently valuable?

One possibility is to view consciousness not as a mere byproduct but as a fundamental aspect of reality. Consciousness inherently exists within the fabric of reality itself. To explain the existence of an eye or a flower, we typically break it down into its constituent parts. For instance, what is an eye? Atoms. However, atoms cannot answer the question, "What is consciousness?" because consciousness is an intrinsic quality that simply exists; it cannot be reduced to anything other than its own essence.

This dilemma highlights our limited understanding of reality. Knowing that water consists of atoms does not reveal the nature of water itself, nor does it explain its unique properties, like wetness. Our understanding of reality operates on a hierarchical model, where history is explained by biology, biology by chemistry, chemistry by physics, and physics by mathematics. Yet, consciousness challenges this model: whatever it is, it cannot be reduced to mathematical principles. Theories like 'Integrated Information Theory' only attempt to correlate consciousness with physical properties, akin to describing the noise of a jet engine without addressing its source.

Throughout history, religions have drawn connections between the essence of creation, consciousness, and ideals such as goodness or love. A passage from the Chandogya Upanishad, composed between the 8th and 6th centuries BC, eloquently captures this idea:

"The Spirit who is in the body does not grow old and does not die, and no one can ever kill the Spirit who is everlasting. This is the real castle of Brahman wherein dwells all the love of the universe. It is Atman, pure Spirit, beyond sorrow, old age, and death; beyond evil and hunger and thirst. It is Atman whose love is Truth, whose thoughts are Truth..."

This perspective echoes sentiments expressed by those in the counterculture movement of the late twentieth century who, through psychedelics, reported experiencing consciousness liberated from the confines of the ego. Users of substances like psilocybin often describe experiences akin to near-death encounters, reflecting a consciousness unbound. William Blake remarked, "If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, Infinite." Following his LSD experiences, Aldous Huxley stated, "One never loves enough… for what came through the open door was the realization of Love as the primary and fundamental cosmic fact."

Were these individuals merely rediscovering ancient wisdom or were they just a product of their times? Roger Scruton posited that "you certainly cannot achieve the goal of philosophy merely by swallowing a drug." Yet, the notion that consciousness is simply the meaningless hum of a jet engine represents a narrow viewpoint shaped by contemporary materialism. As consciousness resists objectification, it may either be dismissed as an inexplicable byproduct or recognized as a fundamental aspect of our being.

It is indeed a reflection of our times that the idea of consciousness as essential to existence seems radical rather than self-evident. Perhaps embracing this notion could guide us toward a deeper understanding of our chaotic world, revealing that this fundamental essence is the very good for which we exist—an idea we once held sacred under different names.

Thanks for reading.

Chapter 2: The Impact of Psychedelics on Consciousness

The first video, "Psychedelics and consciousness: Could drugs help quantify our waking state?" explores the relationship between psychedelics and our understanding of consciousness. It delves into how these substances might provide insights into the nature of awareness and reality.

Chapter 3: Altered States of Mind

The second video, "Altered States: Crash Course Psychology #10," provides an overview of altered states of consciousness, examining their psychological implications and the impact they have on our perception of reality.