I believe that consciousness is a simulation our brain is running. Our brain is a computer that runs human simulations.
This is why we anthropomorphize everything. Why we buy our dogs a little dog-house that looks like a people house. Dog doesn't care.
Why we play such different roles - a cruel boss may be a loving father a few hours later. Likewise, why when people adopt a nickname "What would X do?" they find courage, or get to act differently (common trick in sales).
It is why religions made god in man's image. Gods that fit human archetypes, roles or feelings (the father, the mother, lust, war) etc.
And of course, why people with multiple personality disorder get to have such vast personality changes and ups and downs.
What is the evolutionary benefit? Empathy.
If I can simulate what you feel, I get to understand what you are going through, I may be kinder to you. And this way we get to cooperate and build a civilization that is not based on swarm mechanics (like ants, or bees).
Consciousness will soon have it's Gallileo moment. And we will be shocked to discover there is nothing special about our current human-centric world of "consciousness".
Calling consciousness a simulation doesn't resolve anything. A simulation is the imitation of a process, what is the process that consciousness is imitating?
Also saying there's nothing special about human-centric world of consciousness is somewhat of a contradiction. Being human-centric is incredibly special; as far as we know the brain is the only structure in the solar system that exhibits consciousness, and may very well be the only structure among a very small percentage of solar systems in the universe.
If that isn't special, then nothing is special and the word has no meaning.
I'm also sympathetic to explanations in that vein. In particular that one of the main pieces of it is our simulation of ourselves - a recursive mirrored lense.
Yes, I am with you. I really like Joscha Bach's theory that our brains hallucinate ourselves, almost as a fantasy character that goes through life. (checkout his appearance on the Lex Fridman podcast, mind blowing talk by Joscha)
This is why we anthropomorphize everything. Why we buy our dogs a little dog-house that looks like a people house. Dog doesn't care. Why we play such different roles - a cruel boss may be a loving father a few hours later. Likewise, why when people adopt a nickname "What would X do?" they find courage, or get to act differently (common trick in sales). It is why religions made god in man's image. Gods that fit human archetypes, roles or feelings (the father, the mother, lust, war) etc.
And of course, why people with multiple personality disorder get to have such vast personality changes and ups and downs.
What is the evolutionary benefit? Empathy. If I can simulate what you feel, I get to understand what you are going through, I may be kinder to you. And this way we get to cooperate and build a civilization that is not based on swarm mechanics (like ants, or bees).
Consciousness will soon have it's Gallileo moment. And we will be shocked to discover there is nothing special about our current human-centric world of "consciousness".