Why Did Humans (And Other Higher Animals) Evolve Consciousness?

[bleedblue22]

From an evolutionary perspective, it confuses me why humans have such a strong feeling of being an "I" and are fully of their existence. If we are basically just machines used to pass on genes, wouldn't having a brain that works simply like a computer doing data processing do the trick? I mean no matter how complex this processing gets and how complex our reaction to stimuli gets, why evolve self-awareness? Computers can do incredibly complex things and can perform certain calculations and tasks with plenty of efficiency without being conscious so why couldn't animals have merely just evolved more complex ways of reacting to stimuli without that extra ingredient of consciousness?

[Ravenstar]

Dolphins and maybe some other animals have self awareness.. the common denominator seems to be necessary social interaction. Just a guess, I haven't really looked into it.

 

I wonder who was the first person to think putting meat on a fire was a good idea, that one act furthered our evolution greatly, making food easier to digest and freeing up nutrition for brain development instead of digestion.

[RogueScholar]

http://www.ex-christian.net/topic/64236-why-are-humans-such-strang-creatures/#.VLNbbEbK6nM

[Ravenstar]

Oh ya.. thanks!

[mymistake]

By far most of the animals on this planet are of the roach/ant/spider/microbe variety.

 

 

What I mean is that higher thoughts are a recent development that does not come easily.

[par4dcourse]

Conscious thought was impossible until language developed. Can't have internal dialogue without words.

[Guest Furball]

Dolphins and maybe some other animals have self awareness.. 

How was this figured out....I am just curious

[LongWayAround]

 

Dolphins and maybe some other animals have self awareness.. 

How was this figured out....I am just curious

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-awareness.

[Overcame Faith]

 

 

Dolphins and maybe some other animals have self awareness..

 

How was this figured out....I am just curious

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-awareness.

And here's a YouTube video demonstrating Dolphins' self-awareness:

 

http://youtu.be/Mn6kJJfNLVA

[Margee]

There's some really good discussions about this here......

 

http://thebrainbank.scienceblog.com/2013/03/04/what-is-consciousness-a-scientists-perspective/

[Guest Furball]

 

 

 

Dolphins and maybe some other animals have self awareness..

How was this figured out....I am just curious

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-awareness.

And here's a YouTube video demonstrating Dolphins' self-awareness:

 

http://youtu.be/Mn6kJJfNLVA

 

It doesn't play on this site 

[Guest Furball]

Thanks for the reply's, the mirror test makes sense-i have seen my cats in the past react to mirror images of themselves but act as if it is another cat. Also i don't know what it means but i have seen cats watch television. 

[Overcame Faith]

Sorry, but you can go directly to youtube to play it.

[Guest Furball]

Sorry, but you can go directly to youtube to play it.

Just watched the video. Thanks for recommending it. -peace (i don't know how to post vids either, no need to apologize, we're cool)