The Reality Of Self Awareness

This is my own personal analysis of self-awareness and our unique ability as humans to reflect on our own reality.

Are all other animals conscious of some form of reality? Let's examine this based on my own observation.

There are a lot of living creatures on Earth. There may be many that we have never yet discovered. There are life forms deep down inside caves that have no eyes. They don’t need eyes since there is no light.

Every creature has a different type of body with a variety of special utilities that are necessary for their survival. Our five senses (that we are aware of) are all required to function well in our environment. It is those senses that give us a "feel" of reality.

Other animals have different tools to handle their environment. For example, bats use radar to get around in the dark without bumping into things since they are nocturnal. Whales use sonar to communicate under water. Many fish, reptiles, birds, and insects can see ultraviolet light, possibly to be able to find their food.

These different senses that other animal have provide another reality that we humans don't experience. These animals have a different way of visualizing their environment based on their unique survival requirements.

Humans are self aware. We can sit quietly and reflect on our daily achievements. I think this self-reflection is one of the traits we have that enable us to survive. This awareness of our own existence is a necessity for our ability to create our unique reality. And our interpretation of our reality is necessary for our sanity, although a lot of our experience might be an illusion.

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As we observe other animals, we might say that they show signs of happiness and sadness.

Dogs and cats definitely have a sense of playfulness. But is this consciousness? Are they aware that they are playing? Are they aware that they are happy or sad?

Butterflies and other insects are attracted to the nectar of flowers. But do they have a conscious interest in the nectar or are they just attracted to it because the nectar reflects ultraviolet and that's what attracts them.

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What do we use consciousness for? We know what all our senses are used for. But is consciousness also needed for survival of humans?

If we didn't have any form of consciousness, then is everything we experience simply an illusion?

There's no way of knowing because we wouldn't be able to think about it, to talk about it, or to argue about it. We just wouldn't be aware.

We wouldn't have that internal dialogue to question these things. We might not even have any thoughts or feelings about it at all. And we probably would not have control over anything either.

So what about other things. What about plain objects? Do inanimate objects have a reality? I think we need to examine some examples so that we can understand it better.

As I write this, I am noticing a pen lying on my desk. It seems peaceful lying there several inches from the edge of my desk. Does it realize that it is nowhere near the dangerous reality of the edge of my desk where it might roll off and fall to the floor? Is it content, thinking that it is safe? Does it care? Does it have a conscience?

Atoms form together to create molecules. Molecules function together to create elements. These atoms and molecules are exerting an enormous force of control. But are they conscious of what they are doing?

Let’s consider for a moment another form of control, that of "instinct." Honeybees control their colony by instinct. They are not taught to do what they do. They each have specific jobs and they perform those jobs by instinct. The female bees are worker bees that maintain and guard the hive. The male drones mate with the queen bee to fertilize thousands of eggs.

We can’t say for sure, but these bees seem to function on instinct and don’t have a consciousness. They never stop to think about their life and where they are headed. They don’t ever think to themselves “Should I go out and find other bees? I am bored and I want to change my life. I am unhappy. I’m worried about my future. I need to make changes to my life.”

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Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. We've all heard that one. Bees have no thought on the matter. The are simply functioning for the welfare of the entire colony. They probably are not even aware of their reality, the beauty of the flowers they fly to for honey, or the sweetness of the honey they collect.

This "awareness of reality" is something we humans do. Is that pen on my desk aware of its reality? I know. The last thing you want to hear from me is a discussion of that pen again. I'll be brief...

Can that pen be thinking “I'm bored. That fellow never even uses me anymore.He just types on that keyboard thingy and uses that mouse thingy. I think I’ll go out and find other pens to socialize with. If I find other pens that have been used to write extremely thought-provoking essays then maybe we could discuss it together and I’d have a new life I can enjoy!”

No! That pen can’t discuss anything. It has no way of communicating. It has no way of thinking. It has no consciousness.

Okay, I may be digressing. Or maybe I’m giving you things to think about.

You can think! You are aware. You have a mind and that mind is giving you the ability to consider your life and where you are headed. And you are aware of your reality and you can tell the difference between fact and illusion. You are conscious of your existence and you appreciate the world you visualize around you. Isn't that wonderful?

Copyright © 2010 Glenn Stok

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