The Evolution of Awareness.
Story
Let us suppose that God created trees and flowers and ‘he saw that they were beautiful’. But yet only he could perceive that they were so.
So he created animals with delicate senses, that could see and hear and smell all the many things around them in depth and detail. The animals were very satisfied about this, and readily took to exploring.
God saw the beauty of the animals and how they operated together.
Later he thought, these animals are satisfied and busy looking about, yet each one does not perceive the beauty of itself.
So he created humans who were aware of themselves in their minds and of their own existence.
Only, being so aware of themselves, they did not know very well how to estimate what was around them anymore (though they had excellent awareness of other humans and animals too, as far as they were like themselves). Because their senses were turned awry the humans had to learn by passing on information between themselves (occasionally making chance discoveries). Their lack of awareness of what was outside them also made them afraid. (Their senses did not alert them to danger anymore because they were operating the opposite way)
Instead they built walls and external structures to defend themselves. Then they could forget about their fear when they were safely inside. And could feel free to enjoy themselves together.
God thought ‘This is very nice, to have so much self awareness in these creatures on the earth. And I see now a new quality has emerged called pleasure, which was not there before, which the new kind of humans can now experience.
By lucky chance a few of the original type were left among them, who still worked the old way with their senses. They operated outwards, as most of the other animals. They enjoyed best to be outside the walls, and had no fear about being out in the open air.
They were useful people to have about, because they enjoyed working; they worked efficiently and served often to point the way forwards to the majority.
Evolution of awareness
We can observe worms and caterpillars. They do not perceive too much of their environment. When a caterpillar moves forwards it goes by feel, if it comes to an obstacle it is deflected to walk up and over it.
It must also have some chemical sensing (smell) so it can find the kind of leaves it likes to eat. It knows what is food.
Reptiles, such as the dinosaurs of the Jurassic and smaller relatives existing today have eyes to discern objects and space. They can move about quickly and easily without bumping into things. So they must possess in their small brains a simple 3 dimensional ‘picture’ or ‘map’ of what is around them.
We could surmise that the Jurassic was a peak in the history of the earth, in that it harboured the greatest bulk of living life, than in other eras.
But the dinosaurs were not sufficiently aware to possess the quality of ‘satisfaction’ as mammals do.
Satisfaction and dissatisfaction in most (non human) mammals are states of awareness perceived through the body.
It can be observed readily in cats, as it satisfies itself through intermittent states of calm restfulness,
stretching of limbs, cleaning, exploring, eating.. in dogs we can observe clearly the state of excitement, energy and anticipation in readiness for going out. And the pure satisfaction of extending the limbs in running about.
Dissatisfaction comes in physical hunger, over tiredness, pain from an injury.
But mostly animals are satisfied because their needs are simple.
Example of the lion
The lion when it is hungry goes out to hunt. But it does not take more than it needs as it takes physical effort to hunt its prey. And it gets physical satisfaction from eating and digesting and generally lazing about
Human satisfaction
The human being (majority) gain satisfaction from processes inward. And primarily through satisfying the mind.
But the modern hunter still goes out to shoot animals, the few that are left (even when he has plenty of other things to eat). He does not wish to walk too far, because he does not gain satisfaction from moving his limbs. He prefers to take a cross country vehicle, (which he has invented because he prefers to stay in one place (on the seat of the vehicle) than move forward). When he shoots the animals he is gaining satisfaction in his mind, perceiving his skill, which makes him feel good about himself. So he shoots many to satisfy his sense of himself in his mind, not just what he needs to eat.
This is maybe why the poor old-fashioned physical earth is suffering and being rapidly depleted, because it takes a great deal more physical resources to satisfy the human mind than it does to provide the simple physical needs of an animal.
