Evolution and Human Consciousness

[Crono]

I'm not trying to start a flame thread for people to bash either evolution or religion (though it might unfortunately turn out that way), but I am curious how any theories of evolution address the topic of human conciousness. If we humans are so much like animals genetically, why are we the only creatures on the planet with conscious (self-aware) minds? What purpose does it serve for us to be self-aware? And why are we the only beings that are self-destructive, or try to alter our environment? I understand that, by definition, different religions address these questions, but I'm interested in whether scientific theories can also address them.

 

[Eli]

We are certainly not the only creatures on the planet that are self-aware.

All higher animals are self aware.

There are also plenty of organisms that are self destructive, both to themselves and the environment.

 

[Udel]

Yea, its kind of one of those things we just don't know.

 

[chambersc]

Originally posted by: Crono
I'm not trying to start a flame thread for people to bash either evolution or religion (though it might unfortunately turn out that way), but I am curious how any theories of evolution address the topic of human conciousness. If we humans are so much like animals genetically, why are we the only creatures on the planet with conscious (self-aware) minds? What purpose does it serve for us to be self-aware? And why are we the only beings that are self-destructive, or try to alter our environment? I understand that, by definition, different religions address these questions, but I'm interested in whether scientific theories can also address them.

Being self-aware and thinking rationally and logically (which is what seperates us from lower life forms) are two different things. The dog is self-aware of its existance. When it poops on the carpet and has been repeatedly beaten because of an excriment from its body, it senses, through empirical data, that it will be violently hit. action/reaction. To say that the dog or ape isn't aware of itself in the world is, in my opinion, foolish and wrong.

 

[Mucho]

Some animals (great apes) do recognize themselves in a mirrors so I think many species have self-awareness.

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: chambersc

Originally posted by: Crono
I'm not trying to start a flame thread for people to bash either evolution or religion (though it might unfortunately turn out that way), but I am curious how any theories of evolution address the topic of human conciousness. If we humans are so much like animals genetically, why are we the only creatures on the planet with conscious (self-aware) minds? What purpose does it serve for us to be self-aware? And why are we the only beings that are self-destructive, or try to alter our environment? I understand that, by definition, different religions address these questions, but I'm interested in whether scientific theories can also address them.

Being self-aware and thinking rationally and logically (which is what seperates us from lower life forms) are two different things. The dog is self-aware of its existance. When it poops on the carpet and has been repeatedly beaten because of an excriment from its body, it senses, through empirical data, that it will be violently hit. action/reaction. To say that the dog or ape isn't aware of itself in the world is, in my opinion, foolish and wrong.

So would a complex A.I. program that acts in response to certain data be considered self-aware?

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Human consciousness is different than the consciousness of other species, to be sure, but that isn't to say there are no other types of consciousness than human.

The problem with scientific theorization about consciousness, human or in general, is the inherent objectivity of the scientific method. Consciousness is the root of subjectivity, so objective descriptions of consciousness can never be complete. To put it another way: science can study the "outsides" of things, but the foundation of consciousness is on the "inside" where science can't see it.

 

[Squisher]

I think "conscious (self-aware) minds" are just an unintended byproduct of increased intelligence.

The increased intelligence gives us a leg up as far as survivability.

 

[Vic]

Many animals are self-aware. My cat likes to admire himself in mirrors for example. He's quite vain that way.

The scientific opinion among psychologists is that self-awareness is a defense mechanism. A form of self-protection. By being aware of ourselves, we seek to prevent ourselves from harm. Intelligence and imagination derived from the need to be aware of dangers beyond the ability of our senses to detect. The better an individual can out-think its way out of harm (or use the ability to think to avoid danger in the first place), the better its chances for survival and reproduction.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: Crono
I'm not trying to start a flame thread for people to bash either evolution or religion (though it might unfortunately turn out that way), but I am curious how any theories of evolution address the topic of human conciousness. If we humans are so much like animals genetically, why are we the only creatures on the planet with conscious (self-aware) minds? What purpose does it serve for us to be self-aware? And why are we the only beings that are self-destructive, or try to alter our environment? I understand that, by definition, different religions address these questions, but I'm interested in whether scientific theories can also address them.

We are not the only species that tries to alter our environment. Beavers, for example, significantly alter their environment.

Also, on what evidence do you base your assertion that humans are the only "self-aware" animals?

 

[fitzov]

Other animals don't seem to care about the dead like we do. (except maybe elephants)

 

[Wag]

I know plenty of people who aren't conscious.

 

[BigPoppa]

Originally posted by: Vic
Many animals are self-aware. My cat likes to admire himself in mirrors for example. He's quite vain that way.

The scientific opinion among psychologists is that self-awareness is a defense mechanism. A form of self-protection. By being aware of ourselves, we seek to prevent ourselves from harm. Intelligence and imagination derived from the need to be aware of dangers beyond the ability of our senses to detect. The better an individual can out-think its way out of harm (or use the ability to think to avoid danger in the first place), the better its chances for survival and reproduction.

A book i'm currently reading (Dawkins's The Selfish Gene), has an excerpt about simulations. It proposes that consciousness arives when an organisms "simulations" become advanced enough to include the organism itself.

 

[xSauronx]

if the op is interested, sagans "dragons of eden", while aged (was written, i think, in the 70's) is a good place to start, should find a copy in a library.

being old, theres probably even more research and books with more current information, but i havent read any of them.

 

[destrekor]

you can think of it as being the way we evolved to live. in our early days, it was kill or be killed. we were never the brawniest of the species, more or less impossible to be the brawny creature and be bipedal. all the strengthy creatures that would tear us to shreds are four-legged, so its safe to assume the argument that to be brawny in the way that a lion or bear is, is you have to have four legs. now, why we developed 2 legs is one thing. it was part of our ability to survive in multiple environments versus multiple predators i imagine. but on top of that, we were still weak. to keep the trait of bipedal, we had to develop creative minds that could rationalize and contemplate different things, far better than the primitive minds of our ancestors. Now I am not saying monkeys are dumb, they are extremely intelligent. The smartest being the chimp, but he is more like a cousin than a father-species, as they are said to have developed along a different path than what we took, the different paths extending from an even more primitive ancestor, but what that was and if that line of species is even still alive is a mystery.