Personally, I believe all change ultimately comes from random mutation. However, 'randomness' is often misunderstood as something which has no significant cause. In actual fact, randomness is the result of so many interconnected variables that it is impossible to delineate a singular cause. Human brains are not powerful enough to compute the sheer amount of information required to understand the origins of consciousness, which is why we ask abstract questions such as 'what', 'why' or 'how'.
The smaller the scope of the question, however, the more precise the answer. More often than not, this is how science operates; asking lots of bitesize questions and connecting the dots (for better or worse). I think it is unlikely that the human race will last long enough to reach a scientific conclusion on the origins of consciousness. So we are left with myths, stories, religious doctrine and art, all of which are useful and beautiful but not definitive.
I love thinking about the role of recreational/intentional drug use in expanding human consciousness. Some of the earliest organised civilizations seem to coincide with cultures where use of narcotics was highly ritualised. I have recently been reading about the Silk Road, arguably a watershed historical moment in the founding of civilization as we know it - also coincides with the spread of cultivation and use of narcotics.
I hope I live long enough to see prohibition of cannabis and mushrooms ended. Who knows, maybe we'll a see a new renaissance in human consciousness. One of my favourite Western thinkers once said: "All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone". Cannabis and mushrooms have really helped me to appreciate the importance of this sentiment.
Some food for thought!
The smaller the scope of the question, however, the more precise the answer. More often than not, this is how science operates; asking lots of bitesize questions and connecting the dots (for better or worse). I think it is unlikely that the human race will last long enough to reach a scientific conclusion on the origins of consciousness. So we are left with myths, stories, religious doctrine and art, all of which are useful and beautiful but not definitive.
I love thinking about the role of recreational/intentional drug use in expanding human consciousness. Some of the earliest organised civilizations seem to coincide with cultures where use of narcotics was highly ritualised. I have recently been reading about the Silk Road, arguably a watershed historical moment in the founding of civilization as we know it - also coincides with the spread of cultivation and use of narcotics.
I hope I live long enough to see prohibition of cannabis and mushrooms ended. Who knows, maybe we'll a see a new renaissance in human consciousness. One of my favourite Western thinkers once said: "All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone". Cannabis and mushrooms have really helped me to appreciate the importance of this sentiment.
Some food for thought!
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