Bill:

Just as a comment, getting away from those who simply know, as you describe, is of course a "retreat to the commons", so to speak--to the phenomenology of those things we all see the same. I would offer the argument for consideration that those things which we all see the same constitute the materail space-time continuum, to a large degree, and that in a sense, you are like a zoologist who never leaves the university campus office to see whether there are really such things as elephants (or hippogriffes, for that matter).

As for the potential "consciousness" of matter, it is arguable, sure. But the most profound reason fro my earlier statement is that particles (the objects of viewing) and awareness (the potential of vierwing) are profoundly, qualitatively so different that arguimg that the former is made out of the latter seems like arguing that the sun is made of very tiny snowballs, just formed into very complex connections. Or pigs with lipstick on.


A