• FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      1 month ago

      I’m sure there are, but my understanding is that consciousness arises out of complexity (specifically of the brain,)

      Consciousness is just an awareness of one’s self, as well as the environment they find themselves in. It’s not difficult to imagine why such awareness would impart an evolutionary advantage; and help individuals of a species being more successful.

      Further, we see a range of consciousness, like sea sponges budding at the same time, in response to environmental conditions is indicator of some awareness, however basic.

      A lot of things are across a wide spectrum of that, and we can generally place animals roughly along that spectrum by considering their complexity of their brain.

      So I personally find that it’s psychedelics that are responsible, since may if the things we find high up in consciousness are things that would not have had access to them.