At some second transcendent moment in evolution, Edelman proposed, the development of "higher-order consciousness" was made possible in humans {and perhaps a few other species including apes and dolphins} by a higher level of reentrant signaling. Higher-order consciousness brings an unprecedented power of generalization and reflection, of recognizing past and future, so that finally self-consciousness, the awareness of being a self in the world, is achieved.
( Oliver Sacks )
[ On the Move: A Life ]
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