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PRECAUTIONARY NOTE Difficulties of Language regarding Terminology
In the chapters which follow, we have tried to discuss human attitude and behaviour from two different lines of thought. Since we are obliged to use the same language for expressing both lines of thought, it is prudent to explain the concepts of a few fundamental terms in each line of thought to avoid serious difficulties in specifying the use of these words in the text. 1. Consciousness and Soul (A) The term 'Consciousness' is considered a misleading term and is very much disliked by some Metaphysicians. They consider "selfconsciousness" as a psychological impossibility and strongly object to the use of the expression.'
Neuroscientists also use the term consciousness in a very limited sense to specify the state of a person in which the activating programs of brain allow experiencing and thinking, that is, the state which is diametrically opposite to unconsciousness. In saying that one is conscious, we mean that one is awake and aware and open to receive and give out information and the capacity to do this depends upon the operation of a system in the head, called brain. Thus conscious experience is entirely dependent on the activity of the brain. Sleep, drugs and brain-damage alter the condition of consciousness. Consciousness, therefore, is the name that is applied to the condition that is experienced. Unfortunately, our language is capable of describing our knowledge and our experience, but we get into serious difficulties when we try to use the language to describe the knower. And the difficulty becomes unsurmountable
e 'knower' is not accepted by neuroscience as an eternal non-physical entity. (B) According to the doctrine of karman, the soul — the eternal, nonphysical conscious substance is the ultimate 'knower'. Knowing and
............ We ought to banish the very expression 'coosciousness' or 'state of consciousness' from our language ..."
- Elements of Metaphysics by A. E. Taylor, 7th Edition, footnote od p. 79.
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