In, &quot;Stumbling on Happiness&quot; [0] Gilbert&#x27;s explanation of conditioned actions we just perform without it registering in our &quot;awareness&quot; hit home with me and may provide a model for understanding how animals (humans included) can do something that looks like it requires this invented empathy, awareness, etc. but can in fact be done without any &quot;awareness&quot; of what you&#x27;re doing.  Exploring consciousness isn&#x27;t the point of the book at all, but the one section where he touched on it seemed to speak to your question some.<p>[0] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Stumbling-Happiness-Daniel-Gilbert&#x2F;dp&#x2F;1400077427" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Stumbling-Happiness-Daniel-Gilbert&#x2F;dp&#x2F;...</a>