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2. Evolution(ary) - a process of change in a certain direction. A process of continuous change from a lower, simpler, or worse to a higher more complex, or better state.
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Bad definition. Evolution is the process of change and adaption. It doesn't have a direction, it doesn't go from simpler to more complex.
Complexity, if it results in better adaptation to the local selection pressures, can result.
As it happens, complexity has opened up new niches (at the very least) for life, so complexity has come out of evolutionary processes.
Evolution is a wierd beast.
In another example, if human beings evolve, it won't (nessicarially) be to a "higher being". It will be to whatever local selection pressures push us towards, and it will probably occur in some very isolated subculture. Either that, or evolution will be coopted by our intelligence (self genetic engeneering, transhumanism, uploading, or other even wierder things), and the game will change.
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1. Consciousness - the quality of state of being aware, especially of something within oneself. The state or fact of being conscious of an external object, state, or fact.
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You used another form of the same word in your definition. What is "conscious"?
I can give you examples of features that imply consciousness. The internal monologue. But, then, one implies that language is needed for consciousness. Should we refer to the "mirror test", that a being that is capable of realizing that a mirror shows an image of itself, and claim that is a symptom of consciousness?
I think this is a hard problem.
If you want to punt, we could say "was intelligence a good evolutionary step". Intelligence is probably easier to define. =)