This is a great question! I have some slides that may give some background on the evolutionary themes of this question. ( Starts at slide 20 https://docs.google

This is a great question! I have some slides that may give some background on the evolutionary themes of this question. ( Starts at slide 20 https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1pDZLkFTFjuZzM8lIKkuCqgkFHthCVu6vMgNQge92tSY/edit?usp=sharing https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1pDZLkFTFjuZzM8lIKkuC... ). I personally don't have a real answer. But my understanding is that consciousness emerges as a simulation of the world in which we can test decisions without impacting our survival in the world, and is thus an evolutionary advantage. Why do we experience consciousness in the way that we do? I.e. why do we have a sense of self and agency? I think this has to do with the fact that we have a limited mental capacity and the complexity of the world requires us to focus on particular things, thus bringing all of our mind to a point -- which we experience as our identity. Is it possible for there to be intelligent beings that don't experience consciousness in the way we do? I think so, but now I think we are going into SciFi territory.