Human consciousness: a residue of the past that projects us into the future
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62059/LatArXiv.preprints.542Keywords:
Consciousness, Philosofy of Mind, Theory of consciousness, Identity, MetarepresentationAbstract
In recent decades, human consciousness has gone from being the object of philosophical studies to being a field of vibrant interest also for science. Numerous theories and studies have succeeded in defining the problem and proposing explanations. Although we are not yet at the point of understanding the process in depth, this review aims to sum the main developments in the field to conclude that the true limits of the problem have already been established. Consciousness is an adaptive tool that probably emerged when animals appeared. It allows human beings to anchor themselves to their present, build their identity by remembering the past and navigate towards the future through models and simulations. Consciousness, in alliance with other cognitive tools like theory of mind or language, has fostered a level of cooperation unique in the animal kingdom that led to the construction of complex societies and to develop an extensive culture.
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