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From: Mark Isaak <specimenNOSPAM@curioustaxon.omy.net>
Newsgroups: talk.origins
Subject: Re: Evolution of consciousness
Date: Thu, 2 May 2024 10:03:27 -0700
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On 5/2/24 6:21 AM, Arkalen wrote:
> On 30/04/2024 01:36, Mark Isaak wrote:
>> My views on the evolution of consciousness are starting to gel.
>>
>> 1. Rudimentary nervous systems evolve.
>> 2. Brains evolve, capable of memory and of decisions other than reflex.
>> 3. Those decisions probably work better if the brain has a model of 
>> the world to work with. So such a model evolves.
>> 4. Some creatures live socially. Their brains need a model of that 
>> important aspect of the world: the fellow beings one lives with, 
>> including how they think.
>> 5. So we've now got a model of minds. How about if we apply it to *our 
>> own mind*? That might make our thinking about interactions with 
>> others' minds more efficient.
>> 6. Viola! Consciousness!
>>
>> Does that make sense to people?  Is it time for me to write a book on 
>> the subject? (Do you think publishers will want the book to be more 
>> than 106 words long?)
>>
>> There's also the problem of testing it. I'm open to suggestions there, 
>> too. Step 4 implies that the model of how we think need not agree with 
>> how we think, much as the mental model of our world is flat, not 
>> spherical. This has at least some confirmation (e.g., blindness to 
>> many biases). More would be better.
> 
> Have you seen my thread on Michael Tomasello's "The Evolution of 
> Agency"? I think the book would interest you. If you want more detail I 
> have a post somewhere in that thread summarizing its arguments, I'd be 
> happy to hear your take.

I have seen it, but I don't remember particular points.

I just came across reference to another book by Michael S.S. Graziano, 
_Consciousness and the Social Brain_, which appears to make an argument 
similar to mine above (particularly steps 4 and 5).

-- 
Mark Isaak
"Wisdom begins when you discover the difference between 'That
doesn't make sense' and 'I don't understand.'" - Mary Doria Russell