Awareness
I've read a lot about awareness (of environment of self).
In most of that reading awareness has been treated as a pass/fail situation. You're either aware/self-aware or you're not.
I'd like to point out a reasonable conclusion in light of current research. Awareness is an emergent phenomenon. There are degrees of awareness and dimensions of awareness.
Koko the gorilla is an excellent example. A creature that has thoughts and feelings, desires and opinions, and can communicate them clearly. Her perspective is close to human, or close to the human dimension of awareness, but the 'degree' of her human awareness is not quite the same.
I'd go so far as to say awareness varies from person to person, from being to being, and from thing to thing.
I'll leave you with that incomplete thought.
In most of that reading awareness has been treated as a pass/fail situation. You're either aware/self-aware or you're not.
I'd like to point out a reasonable conclusion in light of current research. Awareness is an emergent phenomenon. There are degrees of awareness and dimensions of awareness.
Koko the gorilla is an excellent example. A creature that has thoughts and feelings, desires and opinions, and can communicate them clearly. Her perspective is close to human, or close to the human dimension of awareness, but the 'degree' of her human awareness is not quite the same.
I'd go so far as to say awareness varies from person to person, from being to being, and from thing to thing.
I'll leave you with that incomplete thought.