[slickpoppa]

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There is nothing close to a good scientific explanation for the two endpoints of this universe...and the fact that the most advanced animal we know that exists, has a self awareness, and realization of impending death, that no other animal has.

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Why does human consciousness need explaining any more than animal consciousness? Human consciousness is merely an advanced form of the latter that can be directly traced to it via evolution. Unless you think there is evidence of some kind of discontinuity in human evolution, I see nothing particularly troubling about human consciousness.