2007-01-22 10:37:30 · 6 answers · asked by anon 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Not just human, conciousness in general. When did this come? There's no fossil evidence, so it's harder to guess. What would be the benefit? Social?
2007-01-22 10:47:48 · update #1
Traits that have survival value help individuals live long enough to reproduce. If the traits are inheritable (in the genes), then these valuable traits are more likely to be present in their offspring than in the general population. After a time, the trait may be common in the population.
2007-01-22 10:42:04 · answer #1 · answered by ecolink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Conciousness is present in all animals, however it is relative to the species. For instance, the dogs are concious, as we all know, the can see and hear, smell and so on. These senses are what realise conciousness, for what is conciousness but an awareness of the environment and how to react to it. Human conciousness is probably highly evolved, when compared to the dog and other animals, however, it is still subjected to limitations like all other conciousnesses.
2007-01-22 22:54:15 · answer #2 · answered by Qyn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The great William James was the last one to take a significant stab at answering this question. His answer was... there is no answer.
Well, really, he tried to explain that all the parts of the mind that do things needed a master control to keep them in line... you could break the task of seeing something into many tiny parts in the brain. Direct your attention at some thing, focus the eye on it, discern that some parts have more light shining on them, remember other objects that looked like this one, compare and contrast past experiences to the item and then make a decision. Consciousness is needed to herd all those things into one useful place.
This is a very bad paraphrasing of William James, but the best I can do in 3 minutes...!
Consciousness is one of the "big questions" of philosophy, maybe one day you'll be the one to come up with a satisfactory answer.
2007-01-22 10:58:06 · answer #3 · answered by luck d 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All animals have a conciousness of some kind, even flatworms. Do we know there is anything EXTRA special about the human one? Elephants and cetaceans are known to stay with wounded or stranded family members. That, to me, suggests compassion.
Elephants will bury corpses. Hygiene or spiritual?
2007-01-22 10:43:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Social benefit of self consciousness is that we have a " theory of mind" about other humans. Autistics and many animals do not seem to have " theories of mind ", so they can not predict the emotional/cognitive response of others, projected from their own conscious experience. Quite an advantage to social species in reproductive fitness and social interactions.
2007-01-22 11:01:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well....since ultimately the earth will fall into the sun... ultimately it will lead to nothing when the Universe collapses.
2007-01-22 10:45:08 · answer #6 · answered by Clown Knows 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋