Consciousness Quote by Diane Ackerman
““I believe consciousness is brazenly physical, a raucous mirage the brain creates to help us survive. But I also sense the universe is magical, greater than the sum of its parts, which I don't attribute to a governing god, but simply to the surprising, ecstatic, frightening everyday reality we all know. Ultimately, I find consciousness a fascinating predicament for matter to get into.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Mystery of Consciousness,” 2015, The Atlantic
Consciousness is a physical brain product, yet it feels magical and exceeds material explanation, without invoking a deity.
In simple terms: Mind is physical but feels magical, beyond simple materialism.
Key Takeaway
Embrace mystery while seeking scientific understanding.
Themes
philosophy
science
spirituality
Mood
thoughtful
curious
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- academic study
- public discourse
Key Concepts
materialism
emergent properties
magical realism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “magical” mean in scientific terms?
- Can materialism fully explain experience?
A Different Perspective
May overlook religious perspectives on consciousness.
![“Symbolic of life, hair bolts from our head[s]. Like the earth, it can be harvested, but it will rise again. We can change its color and texture when the mood strikes us, but in time it will return to its original form, just as Nature will in time turn our precisely laid-out cities into a weed-way.” quote by Diane Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/707/diane-ackerman-1035_cities_symbolic-of-life-hair-bolts-from-our-hea_194991.jpg)
