http://ask.metafilter.com/tags/monism Questions tagged with 'monism' at Ask MetaFilter. Wed, 25 Jan 2006 07:43:06 -0800 Wed, 25 Jan 2006 07:43:06 -0800 en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 http://ask.metafilter.com/31458/Why%2Dconsciousness Why did consciousness evolve? I was inspired by this quote of <a href="http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Kurt_Vonnegut">Kurt Vonnegut</a>'s:<br> <br> <i>"I was taught that the human brain was the crowning glory of evolution so far, but I think it’s a very poor scheme for survival."</i><br> <br> I think Vonnegut's comment extends to the realm of consciousness in general. Why did evolution happen to move in the direction of conscious reflexion when there are surely simpler, more efficicent ways to aid an organism's survival?<br> <br> Expansive answers more than welcome... tag:ask.metafilter.com,2006:site.31458 Wed, 25 Jan 2006 07:43:06 -0800 brain consciousness evolution history human mind monism nature perception quotes reality science sci-fi survival universe 0bvious