Human Consciousness and the Evolution of Human Capabilities

Consciousness and Human Existence

Consciousness is relational. It implies the conscious human being, always open to reality. Reflexive consciousness is at all times self-aware. This awareness recognizes us as finite beings ('our days are numbered') and fosters intimacy. The human way of acting has two dimensions:

• First dimension: Humans are freed from the tyranny of stimuli and can decide their behavior.
• Second dimension: We determine our behavior because we have enjoyed the power of actualizing some of the possibilities we have at our disposal.

Key Factors in Human Evolution

• Standing: Walking upright on two legs implies a system that moves us away from solar radiation and allows for high endurance. Aristotle called it the "instrument of instruments."
• Opposable thumb: This provides a great capacity for apprehension.
• Neoteny: The brain does not exceed 400g at birth, reaching 1000g in the first year of life.
• Bioplasticity: Instinctive behaviors do not fully determine our behavior.
• Language: Essential in understanding the world.
• Fire: Provides protection against the cold and wild animals.
• Housing and clothing: We cherish and protect ourselves.
• Domestication: Animals provide a power supply.
• Agriculture: Focuses on the production and consumption of highly nutritious cereals that can feed a population.

The Human Way of Knowing

• Abstract: To focus our attention on a partial object of reality regardless of all that goes with it.
• Discern: To establish the reality of what has been abstracted.
• Define: Intelligence provides "what something is" through its features.
• Understand: We analyze it and interact, contextualizing things.
• Symbolize: Intelligence is displayed in symbols and linguistic codes.
• Analyze: To list the possibilities available to us.
• Create: Inventing new possibilities.
• Deliberate: We assess potential; our intelligence is emotional.

Four Problems of Human Intelligence

• Skill: Behavior always requires some kind of skill.
• Learning: Requires behavior modification.
• Instrumental fitness: Deciding what effective means are needed to achieve one's aims.
• Morality: It must be "morally good"; morality is a necessary ingredient of intelligence.