It's an interesting question to ask. I can remember being very, very young (7 or 8) and asking my parents this and they would always give me some sort of half assed response or just dodge the question, which would always frustrate me.
I think it's akin to a spark causing a fire to start and the fire then asking, "Why am I this fire? Why am I not another fire?" It's an interesting question but ultimately, not really a valid question. It's like asking why is water wet. Well, because it's water. Why are you, you? Because you are. That's it.
This question arises because we are self aware. But to ask this question is almost to assume that your consciousness could have ended up in another body and/or brain, but that's not how consciousness works, as far as we know. The question almost assumes that consciousness is like a pitcher of water being poured into smaller containers, or glasses. You would then ask, "Why did I end up in this glass instead of another?" But I don't liken consciousness to glasses of water... Rather I liken consciousness more to the idea of a spark starting a fire, which eventually burns out.
To ask where the first "spark" came from is to ask of the origins of life, or consciousness, and we obviously do not have the answers to those types of questions.
The idea is confusing because "you" arose from your consciousness which arose from completely natural, biological processes. You simply grew into existence, you weren't placed into your body or something like that, because, once again that is not how consciousness works.
I think it's akin to a spark causing a fire to start and the fire then asking, "Why am I this fire? Why am I not another fire?" It's an interesting question but ultimately, not really a valid question. It's like asking why is water wet. Well, because it's water. Why are you, you? Because you are. That's it.
This question arises because we are self aware. But to ask this question is almost to assume that your consciousness could have ended up in another body and/or brain, but that's not how consciousness works, as far as we know. The question almost assumes that consciousness is like a pitcher of water being poured into smaller containers, or glasses. You would then ask, "Why did I end up in this glass instead of another?" But I don't liken consciousness to glasses of water... Rather I liken consciousness more to the idea of a spark starting a fire, which eventually burns out.
To ask where the first "spark" came from is to ask of the origins of life, or consciousness, and we obviously do not have the answers to those types of questions.
The idea is confusing because "you" arose from your consciousness which arose from completely natural, biological processes. You simply grew into existence, you weren't placed into your body or something like that, because, once again that is not how consciousness works.
“Love is the only bow on Life’s dark cloud. It is the morning and the evening star. It shines upon the babe, and sheds its radiance on the quiet tomb. It is the mother of art, inspirer of poet, patriot and philosopher.
It is the air and light of every heart – builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody – for music is the voice of love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to Joy, and makes royal kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.” - Robert. G. Ingersoll
It is the air and light of every heart – builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody – for music is the voice of love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to Joy, and makes royal kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.” - Robert. G. Ingersoll
