| Without knowing which type of consciousness you're talking about (self-consciousness, consciousness of one's surroundings, etc.), I would say that generally the evolution of a larger brain allowed for the increase in synapses, thus an increase in mental activity. Since any kind of consciousness is the result of mental activity, it stands to reason that the more possible activity, the greater opportunity for awareness to arise.
Mind you, I'm not nor have I ever claimed to be an evolutionary scientist. I'm just a lay-person who tried to pay attention in college. |