What is Consciousness?

[Judith Rosen <***>]

I have another set of questions based on this other quote of Howard's from
the "Evolution without life" thread:

> In any case, I don't think of physical interactions as primitive. They
just exist as inexorable laws of nature. On the other hand, I think of
consciousness as a very slowly evolved emergent, but very short-lived,
property of individual organisms.

What is the definition of CONSCIOUSNESS?

Why is it "very short lived"?

Judith
PS: I have given this subject a great deal of thought over the past decade,
and discussed the ideas with my father as well. My current definition of
what consciousness is is "The ability to think about thinking."