Consciousness and self-awareness

Consciousness and self-consciousness are terms widely used in a variety of sciences, in particular, in psychology, philosophy, sociology. Their meaning is rather vague and depends on each case. Let's try to formulate what these terms mean. Consciousness is the quality of every reasonable person, which can be understood as isolation, opposition to the external world. That is, the personality separates and separates itself from all surrounding reality. Consciousness is the person's own "I". This includes sensory sensations, thinking, and emotions.

Consciousness and self-awareness are two parts of one whole, if it concerns a modern person. Let's look deep into the story. Previously, primitive people had only consciousness, and it developed in stages. Initially, the person began to feel themselves only at the physical level. The understanding of the boundaries of one's own body and the environment came. Then the man began to explore the world around him. His consciousness was gradually filled with new information and, therefore, developed. After this, a person learned to reason, that is, to find differences, similarities, distinctive features of the subjects he studied.

Consciousness, self-awareness and personality as phenomena appeared a little later. It is worth noting that these qualities have developed and perfected over the centuries. Self-consciousness is the relationship of "I" to "I". To look more closely at this formulation is simplest in the historical example. Consciousness and self-awareness of personality, as mentioned earlier, did not appear immediately. Initially, the human Ego rule, that is, the instincts of reproduction, self-preservation, struggle for females and so on. To rise above their personality helped self-consciousness, which is a kind of commander, judge and critic in one person.

The emergence of this quality has contributed, no matter how surprising it may sound, the emergence of a hierarchy within human communities. In each group the leader dominated, who gave directions, criticized and praised. The obeying people had nothing to do but obey orders. So they rose above their instincts. They did not do what the Ego orders them, but what the leader needs and the whole group of people. This is a visual demonstration of how self-awareness works not inside a person, but in the external world. Later, the individual began to appear his personal, internal "commander", which allowed to rise above the fleeting desires, instincts and other factors hampering development.

Consciousness and self-consciousness of modern man also appears not immediately, but in stages. The little child gradually begins to realize himself. Parents, teachers and teachers of the baby act as commanders. With their help, the child develops self-consciousness, which replaces the external overlords with internal ones.

Do all modern people have this important quality? Unfortunately, not at all. Residents of undeveloped countries and certain groups of citizens from developed countries still live by the call of their ego. However, without self-consciousness it is impossible to set and achieve their goals, to find a common language with surrounding people, to achieve success. This quality helps to make your life the way a person wants to see it. No doubt, all successful, great and prosperous people possessed self-consciousness. Without this quality, it is also impossible to develop intelligence.

Thus, consciousness and self-consciousness are the most important components of a modern personality. These qualities help to gain complete freedom, which, otherwise, would be limited by the desires of the ego. Self-consciousness is, in its own way, the antipode of animality and a necessary element for achieving the "maturity" of all mankind.