It's not about consciousness, it's about continuity.

The philosophical point is that if I accept kinship with myself of yesterday and myself of tomorrow without proof - then I can learn to accept kinship with all other living things, in the same way.

There's a peace in that acceptance - if I lived my life investing equally in the future of any other life I encounter, then perhaps I will pass on from my current arrangement of atoms feeling confidence in the future rather than fear.

I'll let you know how that works for me. Or rather, I suppose I will not.