Collective and Universal Consciousness: Is Individuality an Evolutionary Accident?

The paper argues that individuality may be an evolutionary accident rather than a fundamental feature of consciousness. It proposes that consciousness is inherently collective and universal, with individual selfhood emerging as a temporary, localized expression of a broader field. Drawing on philosophical, evolutionary, and neuroscientific perspectives, the author suggests that the sense of being a separate self is a functional adaptation that obscures a deeper, interconnected reality. The work challenges conventional assumptions about the primacy of individual experience, framing individuality as a transient configuration within a universal conscious substrate.

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Abstract

Collective and Universal Consciousness: Is Individuality an Evolutionary Accident?