The mystery of consciousness has consistently ignited interest and spurred thought-provoking debates among philosophers, scientists, and even those of us who simply tumble down the rabbit hole of curiosity.
The “flower children of the 60s” were onto something: consciousness is not exclusive to humanity. Current research hints at varying levels of awareness and intellect across a broad spectrum of species, including animals, insects, and even fungi. But is their form of consciousness identical to ours? In this article, we’ll delve into the intricacies of the three primary forms of consciousness: non-consciousness at the individual level, perceptive consciousness, and reflective consciousness. Through an exploration of the cognitive capacities of various life forms – ranging from bacteria to dolphins – we’ll strive to comprehend the true nature of consciousness and our role in this vast universe.
Yet, a lingering question remains: might our very consciousness be the potential Achilles’ heel of humanity? Let’s delve deeper to uncover the answer.
Examining Consciousness
To truly understand our behaviour and thought processes, we must undertake the journey of self-discovery. It may sound like a worn-out truism, but the ancient Latin aphorism “nosce te ipsum” – know thyself – still holds the key. Through understanding the science of “selfhood”, we can lay a solid foundation for this quest. So, what do these forms of consciousness entail?
Non-Consciousness at the individual level manifests in organisms like bacteria, insects, and plants. It signifies a predetermined behaviour devoid of any immediate individual consciousness.
Despite seemingly lacking intellect, certain species exhibit complex cognitive functions, such as image synthesis and the creation of representations. Bees, for instance, fascinate with their advanced cognitive abilities like learning, memory, and decision-making. They can recognize and remember patterns in flowers – an ability they use for navigation and food foraging. They communicate through a unique “dance” that conveys the location, quantity, and quality of food sources to their hive-mates.
Another intriguing organism, fungi, has also been found to possess complex cognitive abilities. The mycelial network of Mycena galopus and Armillaria ostoyae fungi transfers information via chemical and electrical signals. Physarum polycephalum, a type of slime mold, can solve mazes and decide based on environmental cues, so much so that Japanese scientists used it to optimize their rail system. Coprinopsis cinerea, a type of mushroom, has been observed to communicate and coordinate behaviours with others to form fruiting bodies.
Perceptive consciousness is exhibited by animals with brains. This form of consciousness enables them to use their senses to process information. Many animals, including dolphins and chimpanzees, have shown signs of advanced cognitive functions and self-recognition.
Dolphins, among the most intelligent mammals, exhibit self-awareness and are capable of complex problem-solving and communication. This was evidenced by the “Mirror Test” study, which showed dolphins recognizing their reflections in a mirror. If you’re interested in reading more about such research, I recommend signing up for ResearchGate – an excellent resource for research aficionados like myself.
Chimpanzees, our close relatives, display cognitive abilities such as theory of mind, empathy, and cultural transmission – all hallmarks of perceptive consciousness. One study titled “Chimpanzees deceive a human competitor by hiding” found that chimpanzees can deceive humans in competitive tasks, suggesting a comprehension of human goals and intentions, and the ability to manipulate these for their advantage.
Reflective consciousness, the third type, is unique to humans. It enables self-awareness and moral discernment, as well as language and conceptual representation. It’s the reason you trudge to your 9-to-5 job every day. Kudos to you – you’re human.
The Emergence of Reflective Consciousness
As beings endowed with an insatiable curiosity, we relentlessly seek to comprehend our position in the universe. We yearn for a deeper connection, a profound understanding that resonates personally. Thanks to our ability to scrutinize our thoughts, emotions, and actions, we find ourselves grappling with profound questions. But how did reflective consciousness come to be?
Numerous theories attempt to explain the emergence of reflective consciousness. It’s largely believed that evolutionary pressures nudged our brains towards acquiring this new faculty, but how and why did this happen?
The Integrated Information Theory (IIT) is a prominent theory positing that consciousness arises from the amalgamation of information within a system. According to IIT, the greater the integration of information within a system, the higher the consciousness of that system. In simpler terms, akin to a puzzle, the more pieces you connect, the clearer the image becomes.
Another influential theory is the Global Workspace Theory (GWT), which suggests consciousness arises from the capacity of a system to globally disseminate information. Information broadcasted globally within the brain becomes accessible to all other brain regions, thus creating a conscious experience. Consider how you’re currently reading this: your fingers scroll, your eyes take in images from the screen, and this information is relayed throughout your brain, fostering an awareness of your current state.
Attention Schema Theory (AST) proposes that consciousness arises from our ability to model and comprehend attention. The brain employs a unique mechanism to understand attention in others and itself. This mechanism, according to AST, is the genesis of consciousness. Imagine trying to read a book while distracted by outside noise. Your brain’s attention schema identifies your lack of focus and generates an internal experience of “inattention”, allowing you to recognize your state.
The evolution and complexity of the nervous system bestowed upon humans this new “functional property”, enhancing our interactions with our environment. Consciousness, therefore, might be an evolutionary adaptation that not only ensured our survival but also led to our flourishing. It also seems to be responsible for those existential questions that pop up at the most random times.
In my quest to understand the dichotomy of good and evil, I continually return to the concept of consciousness – both a blessing and a curse – and its influence on life.
The Impact of Consciousness
Consciousness has bestowed upon humanity the extraordinary ability for self-reflection and the cognizance of our mortality – a profound lesson I’ve gleaned from Freemasonry. However, consciousness also carries attributes that can induce psychological distress, such as shame, fear, and pride, which can lead to excesses on both personal and societal levels. Consider the seven deadly sins – pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth – they are all products of our consciousness. No external demons here, only our ego, birthed by consciousness, is accountable for these “sins”.
It’s tempting to label consciousness as a double-edged sword, but I’d like to propose a different perspective: consciousness can oscillate or shift along a spectrum, the same essence but varying in intensity. It can empower us to ponder existential questions, to create, to love, and to assist, but it can also lead to destruction, hatred, and indifference, if unchecked.
Reflective consciousness has revolutionized humanity. It has provided us with the capacity to decide based on personal values rather than on genetic determinism. Through language, music, culture, and education, we pass on our knowledge to future generations. This knowledge extends beyond humans to every organism we can study.
Consciousness has birthed countless marvels, but it has also spawned a plethora of atrocities. This brings me to my penultimate point before wrapping up.
Reflective Consciousness: A Boon or a Bane?
The seven deadly sins – pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth – exist within each of us. Our collective human history is marred by warfare, misery, and environmental devastation. However, the same consciousness that holds this potential for harm also harbours the potential for moral, and eventually spiritual, development.
Moral development can help us achieve a level of understanding, and even empathy, that reconnects us with our true nature, fostering harmonious relationships with ourselves, others, and nature.
While consciousness can oscillate between beneficial and detrimental outcomes, I’ve often pondered, “What if the villain prevailed in the movie?”, “What if the wrong side won the war?”, or “What if we simply surrendered and let consciousness take a turn for the worse? What would the repercussions be? Could it lead to our extinction?”
The Peril of Human Extinction
There’s no denying that our current level of consciousness poses an existential threat to humanity and the entire planet. History is littered with civilizations, religions, and empires that have risen, crumbled, or vanished entirely because of the impact of consciousness.
A consensus among scientists is that we are capable of engineering our own downfall. Nuclear wars, ecological disasters, and accidents or wars involving biotechnology are just a few means by which we could self-destruct. In 2002, researchers at the State University of New York at Stony Brook published a paper detailing how they had genetically engineered “mousepox”, a virus closely related to smallpox, to be more lethal. The engineered virus proved fatal to all mice it infected, regardless of whether they were vaccinated against the natural virus. Given this, can we truly, with complete conviction, claim that no one can develop something similar, but targeted towards humans?
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Collectively, we possess the intelligence and power to implement necessary changes, but this requires us to transcend mere intellectual understanding. We need to cultivate a deeper spiritual connection with ourselves, nature, and each other to envision a sustainable future for all Earth’s inhabitants.
How do we foster this deeper connection with ourselves, nature, and each other? The answer lies in liberating ourselves from our ego, and there is no need to destroy anything.
Recommended books
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- “The Self and Its Brain” by Karl Popper and John Eccles is is an essential read for anyone curious about the complex relationship between our minds, bodies, and consciousness. With comprehensive analysis of how we perceive ourselves through reflection or experience, this must have work provides a thought-provoking journey for both scientists and philosophers alike – one that will have your mind spinning with questions.
- “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.” by Dr Oliver Sacks. I cannot stress how good the book is if you are interested in the relationship between the brain and consciousness. It provides a unique and personal look into the lives of patients with neurological disorders, and how their conditions have affected their perception, memory, and cognitive functions.
“The brain is the most incredible thing in the universe…it is the most complex thing we have yet discovered, and we are still far from understanding all its functions.” - “Consciousness Explained” by Daniel Dennett is a comprehensive examination of the nature of consciousness and its relationship to the brain and cognitive science. For Dennett consciousness is a set of computational processes that happen in the brain, and it’s product of the brain and how it evolved.
