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ANNOTATION:
Discerning Consciousness via Scientific Method
Clearly, consciousness is observable.
If all the parts of the system that actively assemble the conscious mechanism, then as a whole, it is describable. Grasping the true nature of first-person consciousness is another matter entirely. Perhaps advanced diagrams showing all the steps and interrelationships of communication nodes and their nodal paths coupled with deep metaphysical understanding of the process could in fact generate realization.
In any event, I believe consciousness is indeed describable can be scientifically understood, mapped, and even reproduced. Haven't we reached the point where we simply accept that our ability to process the full, broad array of system/sensory relationships that comprise our first-person experience is limited only by a metasystem that observes the array? Certainly that metasystem (psychologists term: metaconsciousness) can be honed and tweaked to understand the network of interrelationships that confront it! All we need to do is continue to experiment with rational, reproducable systems and theory.
SUB-NOTE:
The problem of communicating this Whole is very difficult indeed. However, this web site is one place that seems to be doing just that! What does concern me about this system (PC) and my own (consciousness) is not the tendency towards redundancy (perhaps necessary for establishing hierarchy), but the danger on all sides of loops. "Observers observing observers" and "Self analyzing self analysis" and other paradoxical, quantum, irrational, sets of events that I personally perceive to be the obstacles of truth. I have no doubt that fundamental reality and the behavior of the universe is incredible strange, but I have total faith that is ultimately within our consciousness' (and science's) grasp.
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