- #1
Erazman
- 66
- 0
Using the commonly believed logic that animals have "less" of a consciousness than a human if none at all, is it reasonable to assume that while our brains are still developing at an early age (up until about 16?), we were perhaps "less" conscious as kids as we are now? I've really thought about this, and it makes sense when i think of my own life.
I'm 22 years old. Trying to think back to early life, my memories are vague. I don't remember the pain of getting circumsized (thank god), and I sure as hell don't ever remember being in a crib. I don't remember learning to ride a bike. As i start thinking of my early elementry school days, my memories become more detailed, and more quantitive. Yes, i remember my first teacher...vaguely. As my life went on, as my brain grew, I remember not only conversations that depend on language skills, but i remember more touches, sights, smells, etc. It's as if there were periods in my early life as a toddler when i was seemingly non-existant.
The big question is: Was this all a mere problem of bad memory recollection, or was i truly LESS self-aware at the time, running around as a little robot as my consciousness gradually grew with my age?
Many people will agree with one thing for sure: watching yourself on as a child on video can be quite strange as you have no recollection of 99.9% of what you see yourself doing. I've retained the odd memories, some in great detail, but it seems the more developed stages of my life are much more recallable than my undeloped stages of my life.
If this is true, then perhaps we become "less conscious" as we get old, too. Perhaps we are all truly dying at a slow rate, becoming more "zombie-like", and less self-aware of our own existence. This seems to make sense when i see some old people, who were once so intelligent, acting like little kids when their brain starts to shrink. My mom went to visit her mother in a nursing home and I've been told the social environment can be quite.. childish. Gossip, ignorance, even getting cranky and throwing a fit if they don't get to watch their favourite show at a certain time!... all attributes of an old shrinking brain, as well as a growing one.
I do know I've never been more self-aware as i am now. Once in awhile i even "trip out" on life, thinking of how insanely beautiful and strange it is that i am self-aware and living here on a planet with billions of others. This brings up another piece of evidence: I've had this conversation with people my age and as old as my dad who agree on feeling this "super self-awareness", while older people will look at me confused as if I've lost my mind.
There are probably many flaws with my reasoning, but its fun to think about while I am still aware of what I am doing. What do you think?
I see it as a scale. If animals have no self-awareness, and humans do, then there should be a scale of self-awareness amongst humans because some of us are more intellectually developed than others.
And everyone who replies to this post should state their age. It will make it interesting! :P
I'm 22 years old. Trying to think back to early life, my memories are vague. I don't remember the pain of getting circumsized (thank god), and I sure as hell don't ever remember being in a crib. I don't remember learning to ride a bike. As i start thinking of my early elementry school days, my memories become more detailed, and more quantitive. Yes, i remember my first teacher...vaguely. As my life went on, as my brain grew, I remember not only conversations that depend on language skills, but i remember more touches, sights, smells, etc. It's as if there were periods in my early life as a toddler when i was seemingly non-existant.
The big question is: Was this all a mere problem of bad memory recollection, or was i truly LESS self-aware at the time, running around as a little robot as my consciousness gradually grew with my age?
Many people will agree with one thing for sure: watching yourself on as a child on video can be quite strange as you have no recollection of 99.9% of what you see yourself doing. I've retained the odd memories, some in great detail, but it seems the more developed stages of my life are much more recallable than my undeloped stages of my life.
If this is true, then perhaps we become "less conscious" as we get old, too. Perhaps we are all truly dying at a slow rate, becoming more "zombie-like", and less self-aware of our own existence. This seems to make sense when i see some old people, who were once so intelligent, acting like little kids when their brain starts to shrink. My mom went to visit her mother in a nursing home and I've been told the social environment can be quite.. childish. Gossip, ignorance, even getting cranky and throwing a fit if they don't get to watch their favourite show at a certain time!... all attributes of an old shrinking brain, as well as a growing one.
I do know I've never been more self-aware as i am now. Once in awhile i even "trip out" on life, thinking of how insanely beautiful and strange it is that i am self-aware and living here on a planet with billions of others. This brings up another piece of evidence: I've had this conversation with people my age and as old as my dad who agree on feeling this "super self-awareness", while older people will look at me confused as if I've lost my mind.
There are probably many flaws with my reasoning, but its fun to think about while I am still aware of what I am doing. What do you think?
I see it as a scale. If animals have no self-awareness, and humans do, then there should be a scale of self-awareness amongst humans because some of us are more intellectually developed than others.
And everyone who replies to this post should state their age. It will make it interesting! :P
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