Is consciousness discontinuous? (North Austin)

Join the Hard Questions group for a thought-provoking evening of intellectual discussions on the intersection of morality, philosophy and ethics. We turn, then, to the unsettling question of whether consciousness is truly continuous. What if awareness does not flow like an unbroken river, but instead emerges in fragments—flickering into existence in discrete moments, as though refreshed in frames? Such a possibility challenges our everyday intuition that we are fully present to our perceptions as life unfolds. Are we ever completely aware of all that we see, or do vast portions of experience slip past unnoticed? Experiments involving rapidly changing images hint at this fragility of awareness, revealing that even under ideal conditions we grasp only a handful of transitions. Other studies of visual perception point toward subtle absences—intervals where consciousness seems to falter or fall silent. And beyond the laboratory, consider the familiar experience of prolonged activity, such as driving for hours only to arrive with little memory of the journey. Can we meaningfully account for the passage of time in such moments, or does consciousness itself thin, condense, and resume—leaving us to mistake continuity for what may, in truth, be a succession of disconnected instants?

Come ready to challenge your perspectives and engage in a respectful debate with like-minded individuals who are passionate about exploring the depths of truth, spirituality, and critical thinking. Join us as we navigate the complex landscape of philosophy, psychology, morality and ethics.