Though there has been some care in writing to not always conflate mind and consciousness nor employ or imply their strict interchangeability, this has not been scrupulous. Often mind and consciousness have been mentioned as though in speaking of the one it could be assumed both are the same. But the seeming and subtle difference between them should not be abandoned to being of no matter. That we often do conflate them to all congruence I would agree, but I would rather suggest we are better served if considering mind as that always active engine whereas consciousness holds more that quality of a passivity, an observer of sorts at slight remove in awareness of such activity. But this is my own understanding. And may just be a man begging indulgence.
The interplay, or their interplay, should not be lost on us. The mind holds and exercises in its doings many things of which the consciousness may only be made aware in part. For instance…we are not always in total recall (or consciousness) of all of what we call memories, yet they are (to us) actively being maintained somewhere in mind. When we “try” to remember a name, recall a quote, retrace a route or in any instance summon up to consciousness a thing we trust is in inventory (how to “do” long division) we hold a confidence our diligence in seeking will meet our librarian directing us to the information. Even, and again, this matter speaks of some internal division(s) we encounter in ourselves, for what is the “I” there? Or in all of this?
I may think or say “I am trying to remember something not presently in reach of my ‘I’ “…but is the I the thing seeking or the thing holding (even if temporarily out of view)? Now “I” (ha ha) cannot argue against one saying “Well the whole of what is going on there is the “I”, that’s all and only how the I works and constitutes (for our communication) what an “I” is.” And I surely cannot argue against such definition if it is presented, but inwardly…inwardly do we not all know something of this matter? Not all that is in my mind is ever all that fills my consciousness. Yet, because of such interplay against which I cannot be unpersuaded, what in other instances would be sought for clear lines of what is cause, what is effect; here I am lost as a goose as any. “I” am just far more aware of a seeming game of hide and seek that is often, if not always, taking place. Stuff so often bubbles up to my consciousness as though unbidden, while at other times with intent a deep dive for retrieval ends up fruitless. What is belching up ideas, (or faces, or names, or past experiences…not to mention dreams) while at other times appears to be hiding info…even info I know (or am persuaded confidently) is there?
“Let me Google for the name of that group that sang that song”
“Oh, yes, of course that was them…now I remember…” ha ha ha…
O! what folly to “think” we know our own minds!
Yet we do, don’t we? If only because all our so called knowing…takes place there.
But isn’t the reality that if we really don’t know our own minds…what do we really…know?
And perhaps knowing as we use it, assume to its meaning (as we use it) is as unreal to us as would be our repetition of some word or notion completely foreign to us as to lack any true utility.
Again, and in some belaboring of this point of how circular reasoning is decried as useless (due to our being wed, or sold to linear reasoning and logic) in most every circumstance, knowing for us and to us, is never any more than that.
“I know because I say/think I do (whether stated outwardly or inwardly), and I know…what to know…means”
And from there…we build.
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