Discrete Consciousness as a Paradox: A Thought Experiment in Fiction and Philosophy

Abstract

This preprint introduces a paradox in the study of discrete consciousness: if consciousness arises from matter, why is “my” consciousness bound to this specific body rather than another? The document references a fictional dialogue between a talking dog and Richard Dawkins at Hammersmith Station, highlighting the limits of both materialist and metaphysical explanations. Serving as a timestamp, it invites open-minded inquiry into the “Harder Problem” of consciousness assignment. For the complete fictional conversation, see The Funny Little Doggy’s Riposte to Richard Dawkins. Authored by Ed Mirza. All Rights Reserved License Notice Copyright © 2025 Ed Mirza. All Rights Reserved. Short Quotation Permission: You may quote up to 300 words of this document for non-commercial, academic, or review purposes only if proper attribution is provided (including author name, document title, and publication link or DOI). No Other Reuse: Except for these short quotations, no part of this work may be copied, modified, distributed, or used in any form without the author’s explicit written permission. For Permissions & Inquiries: Please Contact Ed Mirza via Email Blockchain Timestamp OpenTimestamps: This document was timestamped on the Bitcoin blockchain using OpenTimestamps. A.ots proof file is available upon request.

Author's Profile

Ed Mirza
David Game College

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