The article reports on some recent research, described as ‘brilliant’ by another scientist, into the evolutionary purpose of consciousness. The conclusion is that it evolved to enable fast learning. The question remains whether that was the only purpose of consciousness or, indeed, whether the purpose of consciousness was something else but that better learning came along for the ride.

Link to article: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2138786-consciousness-helps-us-learn-quickly-in-a-changing-world/