cook’s article provides a strong rationale for consciousness being an immaterial attribute of humans that cannot be reduced functionally to the material brain and the synaptic networks therein. I offer that a key word in his article is awareness, consciousness being defined by cook as “awareness of self, others, and the environment along with the ability to think, reason, and make moral choices. it encompasses not only intellectual and sensory awareness but also the spiritual awareness that connects humans to god.”
cook ties consciousness “to the soul and spirit of humans.” in my writings i have differentiated the human spirit from the soul (Hebrews 4:12), the latter being defined by mind, will and emotion along with elements of the conscience. both are immaterial aspects of humanity, and i have documented how the soul interacts with the synaptic networks of the human brain in a bidirectional manner, transmitting specified information via neural codes established within the action potential waveforms of neural networks. throughout the lifetime of humans the immaterial soul, specifically the cognitive mind, learns to interpret the meaning of codes which are linguistic entities, unique to humans. the human spirit created by god is an avenue for communion with the holy spirit by repentant saints in christ, promising eternal life.
regeneration is described by cook as a renewed spiritual consciousness. i offer that fallen humanity has lost the intimate and personal communion, the indwelling, with the holy spirit. regeneration of people in repentance restores the indwelling by the holy spirit within the human spirit as counselor and helper. the bidirectional interaction between the mind of god and the mind of man is restored. yes, there is an awareness of the indwelling holy spirit who directs the saved in christ to live in righteousness and sanctification.
i see in cook’s excellent article a “lumping” of spirit and soul in consciousness as he has described it. i am merely suggesting that awareness is an aspect of consciousness and in turn of spirit and soul. even the unsaved have awareness. to be sure, an unsaved person living to self in sin can still be conscious, though without the personal indwelling of the holy spirit with its relationship with the soul.
so, i summarize as follows: consciousness is an attribute of the human spirit and soul, an immaterial reality of awareness interactive with the material synaptic networks of the human brain and the neural codes. it cannot be reduced to or based in the material components of the brain. consider that in previous blog posts it was pointed out that in near death experiences there is an awareness that transcends the human body and brain.
it is not my intent to discredit cook’s comments, but to suggest an elaboration stemming from my own research. i thank dr. cook for his contribution to clarifying “the hard problem of consciousness.”