Without the existence of consciousness, the senses and mind cannot function and the living organism cannot respond to the opportunities and threats in the external environment. Empirically it is observed that there is a progressive expansion in consciousness from the sense of touch in plants, to sense of vision and taste in lower movable forms like fishes, insects, birds, reptiles etc, to sense of smell and hearing in higher animal forms and human being. Survival without life or consciousness is inconceivable for any living organism. Besides the physical form, all living beings from micro organisms to man possess life and consciousness also. Despite nearly one and a half centuries of Darwinism, no headway has been made in tracing the origin of life or the origin of man.
Man is basically different from animal on several counts.
There are several fundamental differences between anthropoid and man in terms of both physical appearance and mental traits. Facial features, smoothness of skin, types of complexion, gaits during walking and running, DNA etc, to mention the most important are all totally different in man. The differences in the mental faculties of the most intelligent chimpanzee and man in terms of learning ability, memory, grasping power, communication, analytical and problem solving abilities, intelligence, creativity, inventive genius etc, are very vast and substantial. Psychologists say that intelligence and awareness depend on level of consciousness. Of all the species, only man possesses several higher faculties such as awareness of his spiritual nature, moral consciousness, religious sensibilities, craving for self- improvement, longing for redemption from sins, conscience and guilt feelings, seeking salvation of soul through quest of purity and perfection etc.