The Atheist’s Conundrum: A Critique of Evolutionary Explanations for Human Consciousness

As we delve into the complexities of human consciousness, atheism’s reliance on evolutionary processes to explain its origin is put to the test. Can natural selection and genetic variation alone account for the emergence of subjective experience, self-awareness, and intentionality? This critique will argue that atheistic explanations fall short in providing a coherent and logical explanation for the origins of human consciousness.

The Hard Problem of Consciousness

Atheist philosopher David Chalmers famously distinguished between the “easy problems” of consciousness, which can be addressed through functional and neural mechanisms, and the “hard problem,” which concerns the subjective nature of experience itself [1]. While evolutionary processes might explain the development of complex brain structures, they struggle to account for why we have subjective experiences at all.

The Limits of Evolutionary Explanations

Natural Selection’s Blindness

Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins suggests that consciousness arose as a byproduct of brain complexity [2]. However, this view neglects the fundamental question: Why did natural selection favor the emergence of conscious experience in the first place? If consciousness confers no adaptive advantage, why would it have been selected for?

The Problem of Qualia

Atheist philosopher Bertrand Russell noted that “the stuff of which the universe is made is not, as we once thought, matter, but something more like… sense-data” [3]. However, evolutionary explanations fail to address how subjective qualia (e.g., redness, sweetness) arise from objective physical processes. This gap in understanding undermines atheism’s claims to provide a comprehensive explanation of reality.

The Inadequacy of Emergentism

Atheist thinkers often invoke emergentism, the idea that complex systems give rise to novel properties, to explain consciousness [4]. However, this approach merely pushes the problem up a level: Why do these emergent properties manifest as subjective experiences? Emergentism provides no answer, instead relying on an unexplained “magic” of complexity.

The Challenge of Intentionality

Consciousness is not only subjective but also intentional, meaning it is directed towards objects and aspects of the environment. Atheist philosopher John Searle argues that intentionality arises from biological processes [5], but this view fails to account for why our experiences are about anything at all.

The Failure of Reductionism

Atheistic explanations often rely on reductionism, breaking down complex phenomena into their constituent parts. However, consciousness resists such decomposition, as its essential features (subjectivity, intentionality) cannot be reduced to individual components or processes.

Conclusion: The Inadequacy of Atheism

In conclusion, atheistic attempts to explain the origin of human consciousness through evolutionary processes and emergentism fall short. The hard problem of consciousness, the limits of natural selection, the problem of qualia, and the challenges of intentionality and reductionism all demonstrate that atheism fails to provide a coherent and logical explanation for the emergence of conscious experience.

As philosopher and theologian Alvin Plantinga notes, “If God does not exist, then it is unlikely that there is such a thing as objective moral obligation… or indeed objective truth” [6]. The inadequacy of atheistic explanations for consciousness underscores the need to reexamine assumptions about the existence of God or a higher power.

References:

[1] Chalmers, D. J. (1995). Facing Up to the Hard Problem of Consciousness. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 2(3), 200-219.

[2] Dawkins, R. (1989). The Selfish Gene. Oxford University Press.

[3] Russell, B. (1927). The Philosophy of Logical Atomism. Open Court Publishing Company.

[4] Kim, J. (1993). Supervenience and Mind: Selected Philosophical Essays. Cambridge University Press.

[5] Searle, J. R. (1983). Intentionality: An Essay in the Philosophy of Mind. Cambridge University Press.

[6] Plantinga, A. (2000). Warranted Christian Belief. Oxford University Press.

By critically examining atheistic explanations for human consciousness, we have demonstrated that these views are inherently flawed and inadequate. The existence of God or a higher power offers a more coherent and logical explanation for the emergence of conscious experience.