The Origins of Consciousness or the War of the Five Dimensions
Biological Theory August 25, 2022 DOI: 10.1007/s13752-022-00408-y (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 21 |
| Key points | Argues that consciousness is not a single all-or-nothing quality but a set of evolved dimensions, with simple valenced states arising first. |
Abstract
The goal of this article is to break down the dimensions of consciousness, attempt to reverse engineer their evolutionary function, and make sense of the origins of consciousness by breaking off those dimensions that are more likely to have arisen later. A Darwinian approach will allow us to revise the philosopher’s concept of consciousness away from a single “thing,” an all-or-nothing quality, and towards a concept of phenomenological complexity that arose out of simple valenced states. Finally, I will offer support for an evaluation-first view of consciousness by drawing on recent work in experimental philosophy of mind.