Understanding and consciousness are two of the most fundamental functions of the mind. While understanding is semantically different from consciousness, the two functions are explicated as being very much the same physiologically. Their physiologies are elucidated. Genetic research is cited which clearly demonstrates that both functions are physical and indicates the role of qualitative neurons or qualitative proteins as instantiations of both functions. The roles of synecdoche and semi-independent memory item are reviewed. In addition, reasons are presented for the historical unfathomability of consciousness and understanding and the applicability of the concept of a “fact of nature” is explained.
ArmstrongD. M. (1968) A materialist theory of mind, London, England: Routledge.
2.
Brooks, E. M. (1993). Toward an understanding of perception, consciousness and meaning. Unpublished.
3.
BrooksE. M. (2002) Journey into the realm of consciousness: How the brain produces the mind, Bloomington, IN: First Books, Imprint Author House.
4.
BrooksE. M. (2004–2005) Multiplicity of consciousness. Imagination, Cognition and Personality24(3): 217–280.
5.
BrooksE. M. (2006–2007) The identity theory and refutation of Searle’s major objections. Imagination, Cognition and Personality26(1–2): 117–138.
6.
BrooksE. M. (2007–2008) The perceptual arc: Unraveling the mysteries of perception. Imagination, Cognition and Personality27(4): 362–366.
7.
BrooksE. M. (2009–2010) Beyond the identity theory. Imagination, Cognition and Personality29(2): 147–178.
8.
BrooksE. M. (2011–2012) Ontology theory of consciousness. Imagination, Cognition and Personality32(12): 217–235.
9.
BrooksE. M. (2014–2015) The physicality of qualities and consciousness: Concepts within the theory of consciousness. Imagination, Cognition and Personality34(1): 57–72.
10.
BrunerJ. S. (1973) Going beyond the information given. In: AnglinJ. M. (ed.) Beyond the information given: Studies in the psychology of knowing, New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, pp. 218–238.
11.
BushdidC.MagnascoM. O.VosshallL. B.KellerA. (2014) Humans can discriminate more than 1 trillion olfactory stimuli. Science343, 1370–1372.
12.
CareyA. F.WangG.SuC.ZweibelL. S.CarlsonJ. R. (2010) Odorant reception in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Nature464, 66–71.
13.
CarlsonJ. R.CareyA. F. (2011) Scent of a human. Scientific American305(1): 76–79.
14.
FarberI. (2005) How a neural correlate can function as an explanation of consciousness. Journal of Consciousness Studies12(4/5): 77–95.
15.
HebbD. O. (1980) Essay on mind, Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
16.
JacobsG. H.WilliamsG.CahillH.NathansJ. (2007) Emergence of novel color vision in mice engineered to express a human cone pigment. Science315, 1723–1725.
17.
KantI. (1965) Critique of pure reason, New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.
18.
LewisD. K. (1966) An argument for the identity theory. The Journal of Philosophy63, 17–25.
19.
Locke, J. (1956/1975).An essay concerning human understanding (Clarendon Edition of the works of John Locke). In P. H. Nidditch (Ed.). Oxford University Press; Clarendon Press, chap. VII, sec. 10.
20.
Matthews, M. R. (Ed.). (1989). The scientific background to modern philosophy. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing Company.
21.
NagelT. (1993) What is the mind-body problem? In: BockG. R.MarshJ. L. (eds) Experimental and theoretical studies of consciousness. Ciba Foundation Symposium 174, New York, NY: John Wiley, pp. 1–13.
22.
OnishiA.HasegawaH. I.ImaiH.ChisakaO.UedaY.HondaY.ShichidaY. (2005) Generation of knock-in mice carrying third cones with spectral sensitivity different from S and L cones. Zoological Science22(10): 1145–1156.
23.
ParkT. J.LuY.JuttnerR.SmithE.StJ.HuJ.BrandA.LewisG. R. (2008) Selective inflammatory pain insensitivity in the African naked mole-rat. PLoS Biology6(1): e13.
24.
RivoltaM. (2012) Human embryonic stem cells restore hearing in Gerbils. Nature182(8): 9.
RoskiesA. L. (1999) The binding problem. Neuron24, 7–9.
27.
SearleJ. R. (2004) Mind: A brief introduction, Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
28.
StrawsonG. (1997) The self. Journal of Consciousness Studies4(5–6): 410.
29.
VanderA. J.ShermanJ. H.LucianoD. S. (1975) Human physiology: The mechanisms of body function, 2nd ed. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Inc.
30.
VanderA. J.ShermanJ. H.LucianoD. S. (2001) Human physiology: The mechanisms of body function, 8th ed. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Inc.
31.
Velmans, M. (1993). A reflexive science of consciousness. In Experimental and theoretical studies of consciousness. Ciba Foundation Symposium no. 174 (pp. 81–99). Chichester: Wiley.
32.
VelmansM. (2001) A natural account of phenomenal consciousness. Communication and Cognition34(1&2): 39–59.
33.
WhiteheadA. N. (1925) Science and the modern world, New York, NY: The Free Press.
