self-awareness = after-life?

[Dominic]

I'm an atheist and so do not believe in any religious teachings regarding an afterlife. However, that doesn't mean I think there can't be some form of non-dogmatic afterlife - whether it's "becoming one with the universe," evolving to a higher plane of consciousness, or reincarnating into hippos, I'm open to the possibility.

However, what I'm wondering is if the fact that we possess self-awareness could actually be proof of a sort that there is, in fact, an afterlife.

Biologically speaking, what would be the purpose of an animal being self-aware? Does it help in the survival of the species in some way? If so, how?

If not, then by definition there must be something "else" that it's there for...and if consciousness does not continue on after death what is it there for??

I'm sure there are plenty of musings on this subject, so please be so kind as to point me the right direction...

[AWoodside]

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Biologically speaking, what would be the purpose of an animal being self-aware? Does it help in the survival of the species in some way? If so, how?

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Well, this is admittedly anecdotal, but on Earth it certainly seems like the most self-aware species (read: us) has pretty much won the evolution game.

[Sephus]

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Biologically speaking, what would be the purpose of an animal being self-aware? Does it help in the survival of the species in some way? If so, how?

If not, then by definition there must be something "else" that it's there for...and if consciousness does not continue on after death what is it there for??

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"by defintion"?

self-awareness is not an isolated attribute that must have been selected for, it could be simply the result of our particular type of intelligence that was selected for.

[jogsxyz]

Great apes, dolphins and elephants are also self-aware. Can recognize themselves in a mirror.

[Sephus]

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Great apes, dolphins and elephants are also self-aware. Can recognize themselves in a mirror.

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by "particular" i didn't mean "exclusive."

[Borodog]

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Biologically speaking, what would be the purpose of an animal being self-aware? Does it help in the survival of the species in some way? If so, how?

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Dom,

Modelling the world and yourself within it is a powerfully adaptive capablity.

[vhawk01]

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Biologically speaking, what would be the purpose of an animal being self-aware? Does it help in the survival of the species in some way? If so, how?

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Dom,

Modelling the world and yourself within it is a powerfully adaptive capablity.

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Yep, think of all the problems, simple and complex, that you can solve by being able to mentally model your environment and your role in that environment, and then make predictions that are somewhat reliable. Trial-and-error x a million.

[Piers]

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if the fact that we possess self-awareness could actually be proof of a sort that there is, in fact, an afterlife.

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No

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Biologically speaking, what would be the purpose of an animal being self-aware? Does it help in the survival of the species in some way?

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Yes

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If so, how?

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See Borodog’s reply.

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If not, then by definition there must be something "else" that it's there for...and if consciousness does not continue on after death what is it there for??

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What’s with this, things having to have a purpose for existing?

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so please be so kind as to point me the right direction...

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Your judgments off, we have been selected for self awareness because it’s an evolutionary advantage and its got nothing to do with life after death which is a fantasy. Also there is no plan, blind chance is a perfectly acceptable explanation for something’s existence.

[evolvedForm]

Many neuroscientists and philosophers of mind would probably answer your question by saying that consciousness is a mere 'epiphenomenon' - in other words, it's like the sparks that emanate from two clashing swords. It doesn't serve a purpose, though it is caused by neural processes.

Secondly, no law states that there is purpose to all the effects in nature. It is plausible, however, that consciousness at one time became advantageous to social animals like us. Hunting in groups might require communication, and to communicate one's thoughts and feelings requires access to those thoughts and feelings. So although as individuals we could probably do most individual tasks without seeing ourselves as it were in mirrors, we could not get along as well as a species.

[Taraz]

There is also the theory that consciousness is just a byproduct of other brain functions. In other words, it wasn't necessarily selected for, but other associated processes were.