The idea that consciousness is an accident of evolution virtually destroys the concept of evolution. Consciousness is a powerful tool. But it is a double-edged sword. It can make you well when you're sick but it can also make you sick when you are well. It is something that has to be controlled. We have not yet learned to do this except on a very rudimentary level. That's why I tend to stay away from political arguments when they start getting too nasty. This conservative-liberal hatred is pointless and stupid and cannot end well as long as one side thinks it will vanquish the other. It is as stupid and counterproductive as Sunnis and Shia killing each other in Iraq.

It's not what we believe about others that will enable us to control consciousness for our benefit--it's what we believe about ourselves.