What makes you think human beings are sentient and aware?

"What makes you think human beings are sentient and aware? 
There's no evidence for it. Human beings never think for 
themselves, they find it too uncomfortable. For the most part, 
members of our species simply repeat what they are told -- and 
become upset if they are exposed to any different view. The 
characteristic human trait is not awareness but conformity, and 
the characteristic result is religious warfare. Other animals 
fight for territory or food; but, uniquely in  the animal 
kingdom, human beings fight for their 'beliefs.' The reason is 
that beliefs guide behavior, which has evolutionary importance 
among human beings. But at a time when our behavior may well 
lead us to extinction, I see no reason to assume we have any 
awareness at all. We are stubborn, self-destructive 
conformists. Any other view of our species is just a 
self-congratulatory delusion."

            -- Ian Malcolm as quoted by Michael Crichton in 
"The Lost World", page 7. Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, 1995
        (The sequel to "Jurassic Park")

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