Why are spiritual people speculators and people who identify as "scientific people" non-speculators? And doesn't a "scientific understanding" create a contradiction in terms to some degree considering "understanding" is a product of consciousness while "scientific" is merely refers to a method? So "scientific understanding" would mean ideas that are absent anything but that which is a part or product of the scientific process... I could continue, but those that get it will see what I mean.I definitely agree. However, without a true scientific understanding of consciousness and the ability to prove this “hard problem”, it continually leaves room for highly religious, spiritual, or otherwise superstitious individuals to introduce all sorts of speculation on the matter of consciousness.
I like Jacque Fresco’s take on things, in which all things which aren’t functionally useful and overly whimsical are discarded as a waste of time. Poets, gurus, religion, etc… which focuses on unverifiable speculative nonsense is ultimately wasteful and harmful when there are repeatable, verifiable means by which we can understand and influence our reality. Without a scientific understanding of our world, we’d still be engaging in all sorts of degenerate behavior.
Congratulations on the biochemical degree. Have you entered the workforce?