Introduction to the Study of Consciousness

In Thomas Mann’s unfinished novel, Confessions of Felix Krull, Confidence Man, Professor Kuckuck comments to the Marquis de Venosta on the three fundamental and mysterious stages of creation. Foremost is the creation of something—namely, the universe—out of nothing. The second act of genesis is the one that begat life from inorganic, dead matter. The third mysterious act is the birth of consciousness1 and conscious beings out of organic matter, beings that can reflect upon themselves. Humans and at least some animals not only detect light, move their eyes, and perform other actions, but also have “feelings” associated with these events. This remarkable feature of the world cries out for an explanation. Consciousness remains one of the key puzzles confronting the scientific worldview.