A question about evolution.?

Question

According to natural selection the one who is least adapting to the environment would die out. We fear heights naturally because those that did not have died out. We fear darkness naturally because those who lived in the night died out due to creatures and no longer exists. Can anyone explain to me the evolution of our consciousness? techically we did not need a conscious to survival it was not needed for our survival if we were more cold hearted and less kind and nice we would have done better in survival so why does people exist with conscious today? Monkeys obvisiously lack a conscious they cannot feel pity for one another nor give to the poor/ starving monkeys. Monkeys cannot feel love but sex cravings. So why did these emotions evolve as well? They were certainlly not needed for survival? Doesn't it seem more likely God gave us our human conscious?

Answer 1

lol Monkeys obviously lack a conscious..
Um who said that? and how would you know?
I know monkeys have a conscious... if not, how do you explain fear?
All animals have a conscious... sure they may not understand certain things, but they are aware of themselves.
Fear is the first sign of conscious.
This argument is stupid.
You can't prove god by this because we have proof of a conscious in all living things, and absolutely no proof of god.
Let me explain it like this.
Feelings ( love, hate, fear) towards other isn't proof of a God.
I can show you all, animals share these qualities.

Answer 2

You are quite incorrect that "Monkeys obviously lack a conscious".
(It's not clear whether you mean "conscience" or "consciousness" ... but either way, that would be incorrect.)

You need to spend a *lot* more time watching monkeys. Whether they actually "feel" things like pity, love, etc. ... how can we say either way. We can't ask them. But they do (depending on species) certainly exhibit signs of genuine affection, attachment, loss, loneliness, compassion, protectiveness, altruism, sharing, regret, gratitude, etc, etc.. This is even more true of the great apes (chimps, gorillas, orangutans, etc.) over the monkeys.

Whether these are as fully "developed" as we give ourselves credit for is a separate issue. For example, two monkeys may exhibit intense affection and loyalty for each other ... whether we call this "love" is just a judgement call ... but we can certainly see the beginnings of these emotions.

So where did our consciousness evolve from? From the same place as our intelligence: a *massive* brain. Take all of those emotional instincts I just described for other primates, and compound them with the ability to reason and to remember and those emotions can develope into self-awareness and empathy (true awareness you and other individuals can share complex experience).

All that said ... I like LARRY J7's answer. If Genesis provides a description of human creation, it has nothing to do with biology, but with something profound and unique about humans ... something that would be better described as a soul than "consciousness." This is something that biologists cannot address at all ... and don't try to.

Answer 3

I agree with surelynot... that many animals feel emotions such as love and compassion; if you've ever had a pet you wouldn't even have to ask that question.

Secondly, consciousness may not be necessary but is probably just an 'emergent phenomenon' arising out of the sheer complexity of some species' brains.It may not have that much survival value in itself, in fact it seems to be leading the human species to self-destruction.

And as a biology professor pointed out, since pandas have thumbs and humans have appendixes they don't use, natural selection should really be described as "survival of the good enough."

Answer 4

A very weak argument. The evolution of conscience is considered in two parts. Those, as us, who are self aware. Then those who are aware.Monkeys, obviously do not lack conscious and most primates, anthropoids, are self-aware. It seems more likely to me that conciseness of our, and many other animals, type, was selected for those coalitional animals in social interactions. A " theory of mind ", figuring out what another organism knows, intends or is not aware of is quite adaptive. Your argument from design falls flat, when what we naturally know is considered.

Answer 5

You're making assumptions that do not hold up under critical thinking or when viewed in light of the evidence:

Consciousness provides an evolutionary advantage in that it allows for us to see ourselves as separate organisms while also members of the community. It is an outgrowth of increasing intelligence, that allows us to conceptualize and create tools, to communicate via language, and to create more cohesive communities.

Cold-heartedness does not allow for communities. Tigers and bears (by & large) live more isolated lives, but because we are not so ferocious or strong, we need to live in communities to survive. Apes actually do have a sense of consciousness, in that it has been shown that they recognize themselves in mirrors. Apes also do show pity for one another, including helping to feed and care for wounded or elderly members of the community. (This is primarily an activity observed among female chimpanzees.) Whether Apes can feel love is open to question. Bonobos are known to use sex as a tool for soothing one another and creating intra-community peace. A more peaceful community is more likely to compete less for resources (food & water) and so these motivations will allow more of the offspring to survive.

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

Answer 6

First of all, you are incorrect that monkies and other animals lack any kind of consciousness. Monkies are quite self-aware, and do have feelings for each other, including perhaps pity. So do elephants, who have been observed crying over other elephants who have died. Many (but not all) animals have demonstrated some level of consciousness. And there is no evidence whatsoever that any kind of god exists, so why would anyone assume that this mythical being gave us anything?

Answer 7

consciousness evolved because those who worked as a team survived. They took care of each other because the team was needed as a whole.Lone people who could not or would net cooperate did not survive long.

Answer 8

emotions and consciouns come from our environment, everyone around us has emotions so we do to, if you grew up in the wild with no humans to teach you, youd be just like a monkey, its the same with our emotions. im not sure how these things came to be though, i think if you give something enough intelligence, emotions are picked up. i hope this helps :)

Answer 9

The scientific answer: Having a conscience doesn't apply here. Yes, we have certain behaviors because they have helped us to survive in the wild.

The religious answer: God gave us a conscience because it was in his image. And the only reason animals were put here is to be food for people, so don't compare us to animals.

Evolution and God can't be in the same answer, they contradict each other.

Answer 10

When God breathed the "breath of life" into the very first MAN of his creations--- what do you think this "breath of life" was ?? Birds have breath of life
frogs have breath of life etc etc etc
But the Word states clearly and distinctly (apart from all the creations of animals and plant etc ) that God breathed into Adam the "breath of life" --- I have been inclined for decades to see this AS the gift of God --- the Soul or Spirit of man --- the conscience is simply the evidence of this entity --- the tangible revelation of it !!!