Currently we accept a paradigm of consciousness something along the lines of an independent, self-contained being that is conscious. Consciousness understood as an awareness of awareness within oneself. Consciousness aggregates a swirling cosmic soup of particles into a representation of an individual self. Independently sensing, perceiving and interacting with the universe. This comfortable paradigm is not seriously challenged. A central assumption of this paradigm is that consciousness is localized.

Why assume consciousness is localized or within the forms consciousness is presented in - space and time? Consciousness has been convincingly associated with specific areas of the brain; but it has never actually been located. Consciousness has been described at great length; yet sufficient conditions for consciousness have never been defined. If consciousness has a location, where is it? Where could it be and still perform all the tasks associated with and necessary for consciousness? Conscious awareness is not limited to self-awareness. Consciousness construction could occur at the noumenal level, as opposed to the phenomenal level, the level of representation. Communication, coordination, memory and the ability to share common memories are why this is more likely.

A variety of processes take place for consciousness to occur. Perceptions formed by these processes can be communicated with others. Individuals may partially or completely remember the communication.

The mechanics of bridging the gaps from one function to the next within oneself and then communicating with others remains mysterious. Somehow discrete processes and individuals are able to recognize, interact and exchange with each other on an intricate, highly coordinated and vast scale with great reliability.

Communication and other life skills are learned over time. It's apparent localized abilities develop and sometimes diminish over time. What's not apparent is how localized abilities can develop to such an extent that incomprehensible jumps occur. Jumps within oneself and from one individual to another as ever more complex tasks are performed.

The conventional paradigm assumes phenomenon is internalized and processed into a communicable form. Memory is wholly stored within the individual in the conventional paradigm.

At the consciousness level, at the level of perception, the conventional paradigm transfers the construction of phenomenon to within the individual. Where unconscious and conscious activities construct sensation, perception and memory.

Why the transfer? Why transfer the nexus of experience from shared space to individual space when creating a phenomenal context? The experience by definition is individual; this is where the effects are experienced. Consciousness constructs phenomenon. Why position the construction of phenomenon within the individual? Why would consciousness require a location? Why assume consciousness is localized? Actually to be specific the current paradigm theorizes consciousness to be relatively localized. Within the confines of the brain, or at most his person, his epidermis. The current paradigm of consciousness requires a variety of processes to take place in a variety of locations in the proper sequence in a very short period of time.

Conventionally speaking, when you stub your toe, there is stimulus; this stimulus message is transported across space and time via the nervous system to the brain. The stimulus message is received in one area of the brain, and then transformed from stimulus into a sensation in another area of the brain; it is then transformed into a perception and then stored as a memory in yet different areas of the brain. Stimulus, transportation, reception, transformation and retention. That makes five activities taking place at various locations in sequence across space and time. Conscious representation can take place after the completion of the fourth activity. All are at least partially unconscious.

We presume these unconscious activities take place within the individual, where the effects of consciousness are experienced. What I'm saying is these activities, consciousness, interaction/communication and memory; at least partially take place not within the individual. Non-localized consciousness would negate the requirement of mysterious jumps from process to process, person to person. At least some of the processes occur in the same "shared space". "Shared space" activity extending beyond the noumenal, in and for itself, to include the construction of phenomenon. The quotation marks here are particularly important, as this "shared space" is actually no space. These processes do not take place within space. With this new paradigm, jumps across space and time, between distinct entities, from process to process, both within oneself and beyond oneself are not required. A "shared space" where elements originate and participate is provided. Since consciousness is experienced in the context of space and time, it must be linked to space and time. In this paradigm space-time does not push outward, but instead is configured and supplied by processes not within it. This "shared space" must actually be not within that which it provides - space and time. Universal, seamless integration could only be provided by "something" other than what is integrated. "Something" that does not have to travel across space and time to perform its intended function. With this understanding, it is possible to account for something - phenomenon - as coming from something other that itself - noumenon; instead of being oblivious to the issue of origination. In effect this is a non-activity, unbounded by time. A facility linked to, but not wholly within our universe. Change in space over time is phenomenon. Space is the format; time is the delivery medium of phenomenon. Only such an unrestricted facility - unlimited by space or time - could account for construction, transportation and the highly coordinated nature of phenomenon - our experience of our vast universe. This of course does not dispute the appearance of time and space in a phenomenal context.

Rather than getting too far a field speculating about additional dimensions and universes, let's just leave it at this. A facility outside space and time, which facilitates, helps construct, phenomenon; individual experience and his necessary context, space and time.

Phenomenon construction remains in contact with the noumenal elements of construction during construction. In this paradigm construction and coordination of consciousness is not transferred automatically from the noumenal, but rather remains there to combine and recombine constructions that are presented, but not wholly constructed, at the phenomenal/individual level. Here the construction is not assumed to be transferred, but remains with the elements of construction during the process of construction. Pieces are not somehow shipped off through space and time to somehow be assembled second hand inside a few pounds of brain. The pieces of experience are selected and assembled, at least in part, "on site" where they are available to the "shared space" facility. Connected with noumenon, in and for itself.

There's really not a whole lot to say about processes outside space and time. They may or may not be affected by environmental factors the way excessive heat or cold can affect a LAN network. They are unknowable. What is knowable, are the effects these processes have on phenomena, our experience of our self and our world. Obviously, this can not be considered scientific (it can't be disproved). Unscientific accounts of phenomenon - human experience - are not necessarily invalidated outright. Emotions, intuition and randomness help explain human experience with greater comprehension. This paradigm accounts for interaction, communication and shared memory more elegantly than the stand alone, individual consciousness paradigm. No mysterious jumps from consciousness to consciousness; instead an integrated, more comprehensive system is postulated.

A Metaphor.

Think of a wholly independent laptop computer. Processing performed wholly by internal facilities. This is how the conventional paradigm views consciousness. It may be capable of receiving input via the keyboard instead of touch, sight and sound; but all the processing and display capabilities are wholly self-contained. Now think of a wirelessly connected laptop computer. Metaphorically, this in a sense is something like what I am describing. Consciousness as a web-based application instead of a hard drive application. The processing, memory and coordination functions performed at least partially outside the laptop by facilities not apparent when interacting with the laptop. A server-based, wirelessly connected network makes communication/interaction possible for laptops. We are not simply acted upon. We are not robots or typewriters. A wide range of experiences and responses result from the same environmental stimulus. TV signals, radio signals and numerous cell phone conversations constantly pass through our brains. All undetectable, save for the assistance of external facilities. Non-local data, a transmission network, and a reception device combine with internal capabilities to construct phenomena. Aside from memory, the brain doesn't cook all this stuff up on its own. Only a combination of local and non-local facilities and processes results in phenomenon. No mysterious jumps within and without the laptop. Instead an organized system of information, transmission, interaction and communication. (I'm NOT saying we are organic laptops, or there is cosmic server - this is strictly a metaphor!!!)

The ideas, questions and suggestions herein do not attempt to address non-human or theological questions. What's described here is a human, interactive, inseparate, accessible and organized system. A system that accounts for communication, memory and the intricate, highly coordinated and vast scale of the experience of our universe more comprehensively and consistently than the conventional paradigm of localized consciousness. This can help explain how the necessary is possible.

James Whalen