From Dust To Descartes: An Evolutionary and Mechanical Explanation of Consciousness

Beginning with physical reactions as simple and mechanical as rust, D2D goes step by evolutionary step to explore both how human consciousness has arisen and how a machine could also become conscious and self-aware.

Part I addresses a newborn’s innate abilities. Part II shows how with these and experience, we can form expectations about the world. Parts III concentrates on the essential role that others play in the formation of self-awareness. Part IV then explores what follows from this explanation of consciousness, touching on topics, such as subjective experience, free will, personality, intelligence, and color perception, which are often associated with self-awareness and the philosophy of mind.