Consciousness results when communication modifies the form of self-estimated fitness
arXiv Preprint Archive January 27, 2014 via arXiv
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractConsciousness evolved in two steps. First, living systems internalized Darwinian fitness as a self-estimated fitness, creating a feedback loop that generates intrinsic meaning. Second, animals with advanced nervous systems evolved a form of communication that alters how each partner estimates fitness, producing subjective experience as a primary consciousness. This primary form then generates more complex consciousness—of the natural and social worlds, self, and language—partly through internalized dialogue.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Q-bio.nc Consciousness theory Self-estimated fitness Evolutionary biology |
| Key finding | Consciousness evolved through two steps: internalization of self-estimated fitness producing intrinsic meaning, followed by communication that modifies fitness estimation to yield subjective experience. |
Abstract
The origin and development of consciousness is poorly understood. Although it is clearly a naturalistic phenomenon evolved through Darwinian evolution, explaining it in terms of physicochemical, neural, or symbolic mechanisms remains elusive. Here I propose that two steps had to be taken in its evolution. First, living systems evolved an intrinsic goal-directedness by internalizing Darwinian fitness as a self-estimated fitness. The self-estimated fitness participates in a feedback loop that effectively produces intrinsic meaning in the organism. Second, animals with advanced nervous systems evolved a special form of communication that modifies the way each partner estimates fitness. The resulting change in intrinsic meaning is experienced subjectively as a primary form of consciousness. This primary form is subsequently used to generate, partly through internalized dialogue, more complex forms of consciousness, such as consciousness of the natural and social worlds, consciousness of the self, and language-dependent forms of consciousness.