Consciousness begins when brains acquire the power, the simple power I must add, of telling a story.
Antonio DamasioWe can be more or less conscious when you create grades of focus on a subject that is flowing in our stream of consciousness.
Antonio DamasioI think it's possible to a certain extent to make those comparisons. The problem is the detail with which the comparison can be made. Of course, the first place to make such a comparison would be to ask for a testimony from different people and have people report on what they experience.
Antonio DamasioEmotion consists of a very well orchestrated set of alterations in the body that has, as a general purpose, making life more survivable by taking care of a danger, of taking care of an opportunity, either/or, or something in between.
Antonio Damasio