Knowledge Tree
Relations (1)
related 0.50 — strongly supporting 4 facts
Consciousness and pleasure are interconnected as pleasure is defined as an effect within consciousness arising from neural reward events [1], with their association serving as the primary evolutionary function of consciousness [2], and pleasure linked to the origin of consciousness as a decision-making currency [3].
Facts (4)
Sources
Complexity and the Evolution of Consciousness | Biological Theory link.springer.com 3 facts
perspectiveThe capacity of animals to suffer and experience pleasure should be viewed in a gradualist manner that scales according to their degree of consciousness, rather than assigning equal moral weight to all species.
quote[I]t seems certain, as a matter of observable fact, that the association of Pleasure and Pain with organic states and processes which are respectively beneficial and deleterious to the organism, is the most important function of Consciousness in the scheme of Evolution. And for this reason I have placed the origin of Pleasures and Pains very low down in the scale of conscious life.
claimMichel Cabanac proposed in 1996 that pleasure serves as a common currency for decision-making, which he linked to the origin of consciousness.
Resolving the evolutionary paradox of consciousness link.springer.com 1 fact
quoteRobinson (2023) suggests an epiphenomenalist explanation that requires supporting the view that “[w]hat “pleasure” refers to in any possible world is the effect in consciousness of [neural events in a reward system] that contribute to continuance or repetition”.