[MD] The SOM/MOQ discrepancy.

[ARLO J BENSINGER JR]

[Arlo previously]
Ham has said that at some point in the historical timeline, call it Point
Alpha, there were primates that did NOT have consciousness. Then, at a later 

Perhaps Ham would care to explain the process by which the consciousness of
those at Point Alpha "evolved" into the greater consciousness we see at Point
Beta?

[Ham]
For the record, I never said such a thing. 

[Arlo]
For the record, yes, you did. But I will be fair, are you now saying that
consciousness has NOT evolved? 

[Ham]
Quite naturally, as you seem to understand, I do not care to reduce metaphysics
to the human experience of changing events in time.  As you noted, "Ham could
only explain this by falling back on to Darwin."  And that is exactly what I
told him.

[Arlo]
Any metaphysics that is made absurd by history is a foolish metaphysics. If
your metaphysics includes "consciousness", you simply cannot just go "well, but
don't ask me about it, just bury your head in the sand..."

As I said, the point to all this is that IN ADDITION to claiming that
"consciousness evolves", you said that it DOES NOT EVOLVE DUE TO SOCIAL OR
BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES. So I ask, THEN HOW? You find the question unfair, I find
it very revealing of a "metaphysics" that is more concerned with obfuscation
and backdoor theology than answering legitimate questions about ITS OWN CLAIMS.

MY metaphysics accounts for consciousness in the historical context. It jibes
with the historical record. And anthropology and archaeology confirm my
metaphysics. YOUR metaphysics asks that you "look away" when anthropology or
archeology renders your claims absurd. 

The ONLY account YOUR metaphysics offers of consciousness is "POOF!" at one
point it was not in the timeline, and at another it was, a la "God". The ONLT
account YOUR metaphysics can make for how consciousness has evolved is that
"GOD" doles out NEW AND UPDATED MODELS with each passing generation. If you
want to pass that off as "metaphysics", be my guest. For me, its quite pathetic.

But hey, anyone who's "Source" creates "finite beings" so that something can
perceive its magnificence... well, you can take that absurdity and peddle it
all you want. I'm not buying. Essence should really see a therapist, He sounds
a bit nutty.

So really, I don't expect you to ever really address these questions head-on.
As you've made clear many, many times over, you prefer making ridiculous
statements and then pretending to be "misunderstood" when challenged. 

But let me reask.

Does consciousness evolve (over historic-time or the lifespan of the human
organism)? Yes or no?

Was there a time in prehistory when consciousness did not exist? 

The reason you don't want to answer those questions is that they reveal (very
solidly) your vapid "metaphysics". I understand that. I get it. 

"Its God, but don't ask me questions that make me admit it", is  about all you
offer. And if you want to call that "metaphysics", go ahead, I'll just call it
rubbish.

Yet as I prepare for another Yule, I will say that however your mythology
celebrates the Solstice (with Jesus myths or Isis myths, or simply recognizing
the universal culturally-bound things these stories and fairytales point to), I
do hope (despite all our animosity here) that you find comfort and solace in
the warmth of family and friends.