[SinJin]

I think it's important to look back at the history of everything - life, matter, the universe, and find a pattern or common path everything has been taking. From the beginning of the universe up until now, things have been getting more and more complex. But why? Is it the arrow of time, the way entropy unfolds and increases, that cause things to become more and more complex? It seems like there is a constant push/pull going on between the laws of physics and matter, a struggle to survive. Is it survival that pushes everything forward, the ultimate goal? I think you have to question why consciousness came about. I don't believe consciousness is some sort of magic handed down to us, nor do I believe it is some sort of mystical energy that exists seperate from everything else. I think consciousness is no different than an ice crystal, or a leaf, or even a stone. Only it is much more complex, able to receive input, order it, and interpret it on levels much more advance than a leaf can, say, receive sunlight. But it is still no different, only more complex. But why would nature evolve matter into such a complex form. Looking back at the history of life, it seems that the answer is survival - the same way the fish was able to leave the water and breath air. But why did nature take that next step, and continue taking these steps to lead us where we are today? Maybe it's because a leaf that can't make complex decisions will die when the planet it lives on is destroyed. If matter never reached the point where it could start taking itself apart and reorganizing itself at an increasing, logical rate, then it would die out with the death of the universe. If survival is the ultimate thing that pushed us towards developing a conscience, then what's next? I think it would expand beyond surviving the elements and surviving our planet - the next step would be surviving the death of our star, and ultimately the death of the universe. Does this apply just to humans though? No, rather it applies to all matter in general - matter "wants" to survive as long as possible, and it simply evolved into humans to help reach that goal.