Essay About Consciousness

Perhaps one of the strangest mysteries of the universe is the question of how we became cognizant creatures. Being conscious is one of the bare-bone requirements of being alive, and yet, we still don't understand how it all came to be.

Consciousness is the ability to think about your surroundings, be aware of yourself, and be awake. It's considered to be the essence of existence, particularly by Descartes, who so famously said, "I think, therefore, I am."

It's hard to imagine that, at one point, a bunch of brain cells just worked together to grant humanity and so many other creatures the ability to be aware of their surroundings, think, and feel emotions. It's also hard to describe being conscious.

So, what is consciousness, really?

How can you really explain what is consciousness like? It's more than just being awake. It's more than being aware, yet at the same time, it's simple enough for the smallest of children to acknowledge. Being conscious, in its own way, is probably different for every person out there.

What's really strange about consciousness is that we all know what it means, but none of us know how it came to be, what part of the brain makes us conscious, or even what the full scope of consciousness is.

To fully understand what we currently know about consciousness, we need to take a look at what scientists have uncovered about the human brain and its role in it.

Where does consciousness exist in us? What is consciousness created

None of the studies tell us whether we're still conscious in comas, or if brain damaged people experience consciousness on the same level that we do.

To that extent, the mystery of consciousness is still as enigmatic as it ever was.

So, what is consciousness made of?

To a point, a large portion involving the mystery of consciousness boils down to this. Many scientists believe that consciousness is made up of integrated information our bodies take in and that our brains were designed to think as a way to make sense of it all.

By making sense of our surroundings, we're better able to survive and thrive as a species. This theory suggests that it's an evolutionary advantage that has been perfected over thousands of years.

Thi s theory is rapidly gaining clout in the scientific community, primarily because it explains how different animals and people can have different levels of consciousness. It also explains what is consciousness used for on an evolutionary level — and why we would have it in the first place.

But, even though there are good theories, the truth is that we still don't know what is consciousness in its