The 17th century French philosopher René Descartes proposed the notion of "cogito ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am"), the idea that the mere act of thinking about one's existence proves there is someone there to do the thinking.

Descartes also believed the mind was separate from the material body — a concept known as mind-body duality — and that these realms interact in the brain's pineal gland. Scientists now reject this idea, but some thinkers still support the notion that the mind is somehow removed from the physical world.

But while philosophical approaches can be useful, they do not constitute testable theories of consciousness, according to scientists.

"The only thing you know is, 'I am conscious.' Any theory has to start with that," said Christof Koch, a neuroscientist and the chief scientific officer at the Allen Institute for Neuroscience in Seattle.

In this edition we explore the evolution of consciousness and what it means for us, coaching practitioners. How do we evolve our own consciousness and in turn, help our coachees evolve theirs? When you have reached the last page, your consciousness will have evolved tremendously. Think about that for a while :)

I’m sure Descartes would have loved this magazine!