I wasn't sure whether to post this question, about consciousness, in a science sub forum or the philosophy sub forum. Eventually I decided on the biology section.
There seems to be a big problem, right across the sciences and philosophy, finding a complete understanding of consciousness.
The Stanford Dictionary of Philosophy states "perhaps no aspect of mind is more familiar or more puzzling than consciousness and our conscious experience of self and mind. The problem of consciousness is arguably the central issue in current theorising about the mind".
A dictionary definition states consciousness is "an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation."
I accept there is a problem with fully understanding "consciousness" and altho' I do not expect anyone on the Science Forum will be able to give an explanation, that would satisfy the leading thinkers in this field, I would be grateful if someone could explain the problem in relatively simple terms.
The difficulty I have here is that looking at the above dictionary definition, where consciousness is defined as being aware of yourself and your situation or environment, I find it hard to understand how intelligent living creatures (human beings) would not have this ability.
In other words just as the mind is the product of the brain surely consciousness must be inevitable given life and a certain level of intelligence.