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Consciousness and its function.

David M Rosenthal1

  • 1The City University of New York, Graduate Center, Philosophy and Cognitive Science, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4309, United States. davidrosenthal@nyu.edu

Neuropsychologia
|January 1, 2008
PubMed
Summary
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Consciousness of cognitive and desiderative states may not offer functional benefits. An alternative explanation suggests consciousness arises from other psychological developments, like language, rather than serving a distinct purpose.

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Science
  • Philosophy of Mind
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Consciousness is vital for functioning, but the utility of conscious psychological states remains debated.
  • Previous theories proposed consciousness aids rational thought, planning, and executive functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the functional utility of conscious cognitive and desiderative states.
  • To propose an alternative explanation for the evolution of consciousness in these states.

Main Methods:

  • Review of empirical findings and theoretical considerations.
  • Critical examination of existing hypotheses on consciousness utility.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests consciousness of cognitive and desiderative states does not enhance rational thought, planning, or executive functions.

Related Experiment Videos

  • The utility of consciousness in these states is unlikely to be the result of evolutionary selection pressures.

    • Conclusions:

    • The consciousness of cognitive and desiderative states may be an epiphenomenon of other beneficial psychological developments, such as language.
    • Consciousness itself may not confer a significant adaptive advantage for these specific psychological states.