What is Consciousness?

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All metaphysics aside, all whacked out new-age theories and wishful-thinking nonsense notwithstanding, what is consciousness?

Look, we know it's real. The existence of this forum proves it. But what is it? Is it self-reflection? I've been thinking that in its purest form, it must simply be self-awareness. But am I missing something?

consciousness
con⋅scious⋅ness
   /ˈkɒnʃəsnɪs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kon-shuhs-nis] Show IPA
–noun
1. the state of being conscious; awareness of one's own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc.
2. the thoughts and feelings, collectively, of an individual or of an aggregate of people: the moral consciousness of a nation.
3. full activity of the mind and senses, as in waking life: to regain consciousness after fainting.
4. awareness of something for what it is; internal knowledge: consciousness of wrongdoing.
5. concern, interest, or acute awareness: class consciousness.
6. the mental activity of which a person is aware as contrasted with unconscious mental processes.
7. Philosophy. the mind or the mental faculties as characterized by thought, feelings, and volition.
—Idiom
8. raise one's consciousness, to increase one's awareness and understanding of one's own needs, behavior, attitudes, etc., esp. as a member of a particular social or political group.
Origin:
1625–35; conscious + -ness

And here's the real question, do animals produce it or do they receive it? That is, could consciousness be a kind of force similar to the physical forces in the universe?

All metaphysics aside, all whacked out new-age theories and wishful-thinking nonsense notwithstanding,

Did you write this? If you are not willing to listen to others opinions, why write your own?

One other question, hypothetically speaking, if precognition were a real phenomenon, what would that say about consciousness?

?

Is nature trying to become self-aware?

Are we part of nature?