I’ve never understood these questions. “Are animals conscious?”
Well, could you give me the definition of consciousness? No you can’t. So now you’re asking me both to define it and show if animals have it or not.
Are animals aware of their surroundings? Yes.
Are animals showing the behavioural signs of pain when you hurt them? Yes.
Can animals direct attention? Yes.
Can animals remember? Yes.
Can animals learn? Yes.
Are animals self-aware? Some of them, some only sometimes, some not.
To think of consciousness as a dichotomy instead of a spectrum is baffling to me. As is thinking of consciousness as being a single, indivisible thing.
Well, could you give me the definition of consciousness? No you can’t. So now you’re asking me both to define it and show if animals have it or not.
Are animals aware of their surroundings? Yes. Are animals showing the behavioural signs of pain when you hurt them? Yes. Can animals direct attention? Yes. Can animals remember? Yes. Can animals learn? Yes. Are animals self-aware? Some of them, some only sometimes, some not.
To think of consciousness as a dichotomy instead of a spectrum is baffling to me. As is thinking of consciousness as being a single, indivisible thing.