Single Idea 7155

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 1. Consciousness / d. Purpose of consciousness]

Full Idea

Consciousness exists to the extent that consciousness is useful.

Gist of Idea

Consciousness exists to the extent that consciousness is useful

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Writings from Late Notebooks [1887], 02[95])

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Writings from the Late Notebooks', ed/tr. Bittner,Rüdiger [CUP 2003], p.78


A Reaction

This strikes me as being a great truth, first because it emphasises the necessity of giving an evolutionary (survival) explanation of consciousness, and also because it invites us to consider the 'extent' to which we are conscious of brain activity.