Meditation



Meditation

From Nagel's point of view People go through different states of consciousness each day. These biological rhythms are responsible for setting the pace of a person's live. The fluctuations that occur throughout the day are called circadian rhythms (Baron 131). These rhythms create a type of biological clock that can differ for each person. Some people may notice that they are more alert and energetic during the morning period, while others are the opposite, and at some time during the day both groups may feel equally alert.

Psychologists can study two different people at the same time of day, and report a difference in their states of consciousness. Regardless of the time of day, people perform duties and tasks without even being fully conscious of them. Baron refers to this process as automatic processing because it uses very little conscious awareness and states, Every time you drive while listening to the radio, you demonstrate automatic processing (136-137). On the other hand, controlled processing requires much more concentration and uses more cognitive resources (Baron 137). Taking Baron's example of driving and listening to the radio as an example, would psychologists be able to determine if using a cell phone while driving produced similar states of consciousness? Perhaps if they should be involved in the debate to ban the use of cell phones while driving. As the day moves towards night, a persons clock needs to be reset, thus sleep is another state of consciousness. The various stages of sleep can have different effects upon awakening. For example, a person who experiences mostly REM sleep is more likely to be well rested the next morning than a person who does not (Baron 143-146).

Sound sleep alone is one degree of a state of consciousness; just as varying sleep disorders have their own states. Narcolepsy, somnambulism, night terrors, and apnea, are all examples of sleep disorders that occur during different stages of sleep and therefore all have their own altered states of consciousness. Descartes first argument involves whether he can trust his senses. He says that all we have learned has come to us through our senses. He states that even in dreams he is fooled by his senses into thinking he is awake. He goes on to say, "The things I see in sleep are like painted images which must have been patterned after real things..." I agree with this statement, there ...