Tuesday, February 6, 2007
And How About One More?
Using an evolutionary framework, how do you explain the existence of human consciousness? That is, while it may take a leap of faith to accept that the mystery of life was created from non-living organic matter, it is at least possible to imagine a fertile primordial soup being struck by electricity or some other force and becoming alive. From this impersonal beginning, however, how do you explain the evolution of human consciousness, the ability of humans to be aware of, question and take delight in their existence? What was the process by which consciousness was created? If you accept a completely materialistic and behavioristic worldview, which posits that humans are nothing more than the result of impersonal and infinite time, plus chance, much like the image of an infinite number of monkeys locked for eternity in a room with typewriters eventually typing out "Hamlet," how do you arrive at the sanctity of the individual? What is so sacred about any individual creature, if it is simply a product of chance?
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This is deep but I'll take a shot anyway...
We are a product of our actions. That's how we define ourselves and our individuality. Nothing more. Nothing less. In this minute increment of time that we exist, we as humans have developed this acceptable definition of being aware, or consciousness. I would argue the only sense of "awareness" we have is with our surroundings and other life forms. The interactions and behaviors we display with those other things is the definition of the individual creature - maybe its special, maybe its not. Who's to define that other than our society?
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