"As you know, I study philosophy. In the field of philosophy, there are two views on the origin of the world. Dualists believe that the origin of the world is composed of both consciousness and matter, and that consciousness can exist independently of matter; while monists believe that the world is only composed of matter, and that human consciousness and emotional cognition are all manifestations of matter."
Su Huilan smiled and walked back to the table, asking like a professor, "Guess which one I am?"
Petru immediately replied, "Of course, dualists."
Instead of saying whether it was right or wrong, Su Huilan turned the topic to science:
"In modern scientific research, a question that has always puzzled scientists is: how exactly do consciousness and matter interact? If consciousness is generated by some law of motion of matter, then what is this mechanism? If consciousness exists independently of matter, then what is it?"
"Mainstream academia, that is, in experimental scientific research and school teaching, generally accepts monism, believing that the body and mind are different manifestations of the same thing. Consciousness is brain function, and thinking is the result of a large number of neuronal activities. As human research on the brain has become more in-depth, this view seems to have no problems, and therefore has become mainstream. However, you must know that no matter when or in any environment, the 'mainstream' is always a relatively conservative set of ideas."
"Whether in the scientific or philosophical community, only enlightened, open-minded, radical, and even adventurous scholars can stand at a height that transcends their time, break free from the shackles of old ideas, use entirely new theories to change the world, and become the most outstanding thinkers. Aristotle, Newton, Einstein... all exemplify this. In today's scientific community, those top scholars, such as Lester, Flins, Miyamoto Jo, and Mei Yiqiu, are not conservatives either. Although I dare not compare myself to them in the scientific field, on this point, we are basically in agreement."
Su Huilan paused slightly at this point, glanced at Qingmu, and gave him a half-smile.
Qingmu knew that she was saying these words not only to Petru, but also to him, and most likely primarily to him.
However, the question of whether consciousness exists independently of matter may be a problem for ordinary people. Experimental science usually uses the consciousness and cognition after brain injury to prove that consciousness is a byproduct of the brain and a manifestation of brain function. This is because no matter what kind of injury a person suffers, such as losing a finger, amputation, removing a kidney, or even having a heart transplant, a person's consciousness and thinking will not be affected. However, if the brain is damaged, consciousness will become incomplete or even be completely lost.
Another direct experience is that when a person is in deep sleep or under anesthesia, they have no sensation or consciousness at all. Similarly, it can be argued that the soul does not exist after death. This can also indirectly prove that consciousness is based on the special structure and movement of matter.
Therefore, some people say that if you encounter a ghost, it's such a lucky and celebratory thing! Because it means that you still exist after death and will not disappear.
Qingmu agrees with Su Huilan's view that the mainstream is conservative, because even after Lester's last words were published, the Parasitic Consciousness invasion was almost confirmed, Cat-Killing Order spread around the world, the so-called elites still insisted on materialism and still did not believe in the existence of consciousness invading the human brain or the possibility of a person living but becoming another person.
Therefore, in most versions of the impending apocalypse circulating in various places, people are still accustomed to calling Parasitic Consciousness entities alien creatures, believing that Toxoplasma gondii and the Gray Brain Virus are the fundamental means of alien invasion, and that cats all over the world suffer as a result.
However, all these views and theories are invalid in the eyes of Awakened like Qingmu. The independent existence of consciousness is merely common sense to them; if consciousness cannot exist independently, how do they create their lucid dreams? And how do they enter other people's dreams?
Therefore, Qingmu didn't understand the point of Su Huilan telling him all this. Of course, he knew that Su Huilan, like Professor Mei, acknowledged the existence of consciousness, but scientists didn't equate consciousness with the soul, nor did they engage in much pointless debate before scientific evidence was available.
Su Huilan is clearly more special. Compared to Mei Yiqiu, she is Awakened, possessing strong Mental Power and independent consciousness; compared to Qingmu, she is a scholar with profound scientific literacy and theoretical foundation.
Qingmu felt that Su Huilan was steer the conversation in a certain direction; she definitely wasn't trying to talk about the existence of consciousness.
Sure enough, after a brief pause, Su Huilan said:
"But if you think I support dualism, you're wrong. On the contrary, I'm a monist."
Qingmu and Petru were both stunned.
Seeing their astonished expressions, Su Huilan smiled and said:
"However, my monism is different from the monism we just discussed. Traditional monists believe that the essence of the world is matter, that everything is made up of matter, and that all phenomena are manifestations of the movement of matter. Our emotions, thoughts, and consciousness are all produced by the movement of the matter that constitutes our bodies according to certain structures and laws."
But I hold the opposite view. I believe the origin of the world is consciousness, which is 'I,' and everything is created by me. The power of consciousness constructs this world, including the 'nothingness' that makes up the world and the fundamental rules governing its operation.
This viewpoint seemed familiar, Qingmu searched his memory, trying to find out who had said it before.
Petru, being a soldier by trade, didn't know much about philosophy and science, so he didn't interrupt.
But the Crow on the Qingmu couldn't help but interject, "Isn't it just subjective idealism?!"
Su Huilan corrected:
"No, they are not the same. Idealist monists believe that the origin of the world is composed of spirit, and the source of spirit is God. In other words, the fundamental difference between idealism and materialism, besides the distinction between 'all idealism' and 'all materialism' as indicated by their names, is whether or not they acknowledge the existence of 'God'. Because without 'God', idealists cannot explain the phenomena of the universe."
I am an atheist, but I am not a materialist, nor even a dualist. Isn't that strange?
But you shouldn't be surprised at all. As long as you set aside traditional concepts like materialism and idealism, you can easily accept my ideas. If I had to give my ideas a name, I would call it— Consciousness-Only Theory.
" Consciousness-Only Theory?" the Crow mumbled the term, as if chewing on something. " Guagua, that sounds a bit like Nietzsche's 'voluntarism,' and a bit like Buddhism's 'consciousness-only theory.' The Buddha said, 'When the mind arises, all phenomena arise; when the mind ceases, all phenomena cease. All conditioned phenomena are like dew and lightning; thus should you contemplate them.' Nietzsche said, 'If there is a God, how can I bear not being that God? Therefore, there is no God!'..."
The cat beside it meowed Hanran, its eyes filled with reverence as it looked at the Boss Coal.
Qingmu yanked the Crow off his head, which was perched on his scalp, scratching at him while incessantly muttering religious and philosophical maxims, and laughed and scolded:
"When did you become a philosopher?!"