Consciousness Quote by Marshall McLuhan
““Rationality or consciousness is itself a ratio or proportion among the sensuous components of experience, and is not something added to such sense experience. Subrational beings have no means of achieving such a ratio or proportion in their sense lives but are wired for fixed wave lengths, as it were, having infallibility in their own area of experience. Consciousness, complex and subtle, can be impaired or ended by a mere stepping-up or dimming-down of any one sense intensity, which is the procedure in hypnosis. And the intensification of one sense by a new medium can hypnotize an entire community.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man, 1964
Consciousness emerges from the balance of sensory inputs; altering one sense can reshape perception, similar to hypnosis.
In simple terms: Our mind depends on sensory balance.
Key Takeaway
Maintain sensory equilibrium.
Themes
perception
consciousness
media
hypnosis
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- designing immersive media
- mindfulness practices
- clinical hypnosis
Key Concepts
sensory integration
cognitive science
media theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does media shape our sensory experience?
- Can intentional sensory modulation improve cognition?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on a single sensory channel can limit understanding.
