Why did we even evolve consciousness?

XqurZz

If life is all about reproduction, why do we have consciousness? What was the point of inventing it if all we wanted was to pass on genetics? There is an argument that intellect helps with the transfer of genes, but why do humans think and feel so strongly about things like love, beauty, etc.?

Elliott87

That’s assuming the evolution theory is true

XqurZz

@Elliott87 How can you prove a god though? I honestly don't know what I believe tbf.

r.rasho

@XqurZz Maybe consciousness wasn't "invented" for a purpose. It could just be an emergent property of a brain that became complex enough. Natural selection doesn't necessarily optimize for happiness or meaning it only favors traits that improve survival and reproduction. Consciousness, emotions, love, and our sense of beauty may simply be byproducts of intelligence that happened to increase our ancestors chances of surviving and passing on their genes. Once a brain reaches a certain level of complexity, it starts asking questions that evolution never "intended" it to ask

Rawsei

@XqurZz Life isn't about reproduction. I'd like to see an argument for that.

A system takes whatever available path depletes gradients fastest under the prevailing constraints, and ordered structures are often produced precisely because organised flow dissipates faster than disordered flow.
Life, and then knowing (consciousness) fall under the same tendency. If that holds, the mind is continuous with the ordering activity of the cosmos rather than an improbable local anomaly running against it, and the end-directedness of living and knowing systems is real, lawful and physical.
This is why we have consciousness. It wasn't invented; it was selected.

This is Swenson's approach. I highly recommend reading his papers on thermodynamics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUx_aDxTJe4

LUV

@XqurZz you need empirical evidence. I know God exists

Rawsei

@XqurZz You can't prove a nothing.

XqurZz

@r.ras would you say empirical evidence is required for scientific claims but
belief in God is a metaphysical stance, not an empirical one?

Rabbi

@XqurZz Evolution is bullshit, we were transported here by spacecraft from another planet to the animal kingdom (Earth) and then at some day the other humans will go get us back with their spacecraft to the other planets or maybe they are already waiting for us.

Its definitely something else than evolution.

r.rasho

@XqurZz I don't think God exists, and I don't think the concept even makes sense. A being that's outside space, time, and the laws of nature can't be tested, observed, or distinguished from something imaginary. If there's no way to demonstrate that such a being exists or interacts with reality, then I don't see any reason to believe it exists at all