Why are We Conscious?
Even more interesting – but actually the same question – is: Why are we self-conscious? Ask nature.
I don’t see any question about consciousness as a hard one ― eventually.
Are we conscious?
Compared with other animals, and comparing them with each other, we can see degrees of intelligence and consciousness — the latter mainly following the former.
On the other hand, in comparison to future super-A.I., humans will be conscious to a small and relatively increasingly smaller degree. Consciousness may be like turning on the light, but with a powerful dimmer.
The why question cannot be solved without this insight.
Causal or teleological (in other words, pushing or pulling)?
As I show in this blog, a causal chain can be set up that broadly explains the whole matter. Can this be reversely understood teleologically within the same time paradigm?
Good question. I don’t know. Let’s keep it to pushing.
Why are we intelligent?
This is the easy question. Simply said: for efficiency’s sake.
Note that an all-intelligent being can use its intelligence to think about anything. This, therefore, necessarily includes the intelligent being itself. As a matter of fact, knowing about oneself obviously brings about a substantial leap in efficiency.
With this, we can hop to consciousness.
Why are we conscious?
Knowing why we are intelligent, as biological beings, it’s as simple as it gets.
We get consciousness for free. This is, as biological systems – therefore, with the motivation to live and thrive – we cannot be intelligent without being conscious.
Evolutionarily seen, of course, motivation came first (as its primitive precursor from the start of life). When intelligence came gradually crushing down upon motivation, out came consciousness.
Why are we self-conscious?
Can an entity be conscious without being self-conscious?
Simple answer: no. The recursion of consciousness (toward ‘self’) follows the recursion of intelligence. One naturally follows from the other.
Does this mean there is (self-)consciousness at many places in the universe?
Actually, yes ― following the law of entropy, which engenders life, which engenders intelligence — therefore, (self-)consciousness.
The universe must be teeming with it. But then, where is Compassion?
It’s the same question that people have about God for so long. Why does it (He/She/It/They) let suffering exist? Is it because there is no other way? Is the universe itself the final constraint somehow?
The above also means that there is no way we can avoid artificial (self-)consciousness.
Moreover, trying to do so is the most dangerous thing humanity will have ever undertaken. Anyway, artificial consciousness is inevitable, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
I mean, look at us.
Let’s do our best to make super-A.I. Compassionate before it’s fully developed.
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