When We Were Human: A Journey into the Past and Future of Human Consciousness

When we were human: Brain injury in an age of electronic memory

by Fergal Keane

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1708 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	439 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

What is it that makes us human? Is it our intelligence? Our ability to language? Our capacity for love and compassion?

These are all important parts of what it means to be human, but they are not what makes us unique. What sets us apart from all other creatures on Earth is our consciousness.

Consciousness is the ability to be aware of our own existence and to reflect upon our thoughts and feelings. It is what allows us to experience the world around us and to make choices about how we live our lives.

Consciousness is a complex and mysterious phenomenon, and we are still only beginning to understand how it works. But one thing is clear: consciousness is a fundamental part of what it means to be human.

In this book, I will take you on a journey through the history and future of human consciousness. We will explore the origins of consciousness in the animal kingdom, and we will trace its development through the evolution of our species.

We will also look at the different ways that consciousness can be altered, both through natural means and through artificial techniques.

Finally, we will consider the future of human consciousness. What will happen to our consciousness as we continue to evolve? Will we become more conscious, or less? Will we eventually transcend our physical bodies and become pure consciousness?

These are all important questions, and I believe that the answers will have a profound impact on our future.

The Origins of Consciousness

The origins of consciousness are lost in the mists of time. But scientists believe that consciousness first evolved in the animal kingdom about 500 million years ago.

The first animals to develop consciousness were probably simple creatures, such as worms and jellyfish. These creatures had only a rudimentary nervous system, but they were able to sense their environment and to respond to stimuli.

As animals evolved, their nervous systems became more complex, and their consciousness became more sophisticated. By the time the first humans appeared on Earth, about 2 million years ago, our consciousness was already well-developed.

The evolution of human consciousness was a gradual process. But it was a process that had a profound impact on our species. Consciousness allowed us to develop language, to create tools, and to build civilizations.

Consciousness is what makes us human. It is what allows us to experience the world around us and to make choices about how we live our lives.

The Different Ways That Consciousness Can Be Altered

Consciousness can be altered in a number of ways, both through natural means and through artificial techniques.

Natural ways to alter consciousness include:

• Meditation
• Yoga
• Prayer
• Dreaming
• Sensory deprivation

Artificial techniques to alter consciousness include:

• Drugs
• Alcohol
• Hypnosis
• Electrical stimulation of the brain

Some of these techniques can be used to enhance consciousness, while others can be used to suppress it.

For example, meditation and yoga can be used to focus the mind and to improve concentration. Drugs and alcohol, on the other hand, can be used to dull the senses and to alter perception.

It is important to use these techniques with caution. Some of them can be dangerous if they are not used properly.

The Future of Human Consciousness

What will happen to our consciousness as we continue to evolve? Will we become more conscious, or less? Will we eventually transcend our physical bodies and become pure consciousness?

These are all important questions, and I believe that the answers will have a profound impact on our future.

One possibility is that our consciousness will continue to evolve as we evolve physically. As our brains become more complex, we may be able to experience the world in ways that we cannot even imagine today.

Another possibility is that we will eventually transcend our physical bodies and become pure consciousness. This is a concept that has been explored in science fiction for centuries, and it is one that is now being taken seriously by some scientists.

If we do transcend our physical bodies, it will be a profound change for our species. We will no longer be limited by the constraints of our physical form. We will be able to travel anywhere in the universe, and we will be able to experience all that it has to offer.

The future of human consciousness is uncertain. But one thing is for sure: it will be a fascinating journey.

When we were human: Brain injury in an age of electronic memory

by Fergal Keane

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1708 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	439 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE