The Goals and Functions of Consciousness (Eva Jablonka)

Consciousness is a teleological mode of being, which is constituted by coupled, functional processes and structures. I distinguish between three teleological living modes of being: a living (non-conscious) mode of life, a conscious mode of being, and a rational/symbolic (human) mode of being, which correspond to the three levels of soul suggested by Aristotle. These evolved modes of being are characterized by the possession of distinct, hierarchically-nested goals and value systems, which determine the functions of the parts and processes of which they are comprised. I discuss the evolutionary transition to basic consciousness, which enables the identification of the processes that constitute it and suggest that while these constitutive process have important evolved functions, consciousness is best considered in terms of the new realm of goals it opens up.