Seagull -
But quite whether consciousness is equivalent to self-awareness is also unclear.
Absolutely. Have you noticed that nearly all these sorts of conversation, if one pursues them, come back to questions no one can answer?
I think I realised that a long time ago so I decided I wasn't going to wait for anybody and answer them for myself. And what's strange is how quickly one can find the answers. I'm quite sure that we spend far too much time reading what other people say, or reading the arguments they have, or depending on others' input. One can waste a great deal of time doing that. But a moment's observation of oneself can give the answer. It's quite easy but no one trusts it (as if others really do know better - they don't) so the innovator can find themselves out on a limb quite quickly :-)
Is consciousness is equivalent to self-awareness? Is everything conscious self-aware? What does self-aware mean? Aware of pain? Or aware of a self? Is an animal aware of itself beyond the physical senses? Does it have a concept of 'me'. I doubt it.
Do we have a concept of 'me'? Absolutely. 'Me' is my background, experience, knowledge... everything which is in our consciousness. Is it permanent? Certainly not, nothing is. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? I would say a dangerous thing because there's my 'me' and your 'me' and they're separative. Is a 'me' necessary at all? Probably not, although it's so prevalent that it's taken for granted. What happens when there's no 'me'? Then there's no separation, which means unity, harmony, integration with others and everything around one. That can only be good.
So is consciousness is equivalent to self-awareness? Physically, yes, otherwise we wouldn't be conscious. Otherwise, no, it depends how one is thinking. Which, presumably, is why no one has really established a clear answer yet.