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Scientists push new paradigm of animal consciousness, saying even insects may be sentient (www.nbcnews.com)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Far more animals than previously thought likely have consciousness, top scientists say in a new declaration — including fish, lobsters and octopus.

Bees play by rolling wooden balls — apparently for fun. The cleaner wrasse fish appears to recognize its own visage in an underwater mirror. Octopuses seem to react to anesthetic drugs and will avoid settings where they likely experienced past pain.

All three of these discoveries came in the last five years — indications that the more scientists test animals, the more they find that many species may have inner lives and be sentient. A surprising range of creatures have shown evidence of conscious thought or experience, including insects, fish and some crustaceans.

That has prompted a group of top researchers on animal cognition to publish a new pronouncement that they hope will transform how scientists and society view — and care — for animals.

Nearly 40 researchers signed “The New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness,” which was first presented at a conference at New York University on Friday morning. It marks a pivotal moment, as a flood of research on animal cognition collides with debates over how various species ought to be treated.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Humans have a really, really hard time NOT assigning human attributes to every other living thing.

One thing that makes this hypothesis seem possible, is that some researchers are suggesting consciousness is external, and eternal. Meaning all living things are essentially antennae.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 months ago (1 children)

That really reeks of "scientists invent God." And I question the actual motives of any researcher that would suggest such an idea.

Show me the data that suggest that. Describe a test that might prove it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

I think Penrose was talking about devising one. What do you think the motives would be?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Source?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

This is basic, but there are thousands of lectures, books, and papers on it, going back to the 80's.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/think-well/201906/can-consciousness-exist-outside-the-brain

https://youtu.be/Ci2npsJIvFc?si=Vaf2Z9m6MLsbgMjR

Or anything with Donald Hoffman, which there is a ton.

Basically, our brain just handles our cognitive needs, and filters consciousness, which is a fundamental property of the universe. Think what you will, but this is a pretty popular theory in the past decade or so. Among physicists and neurologists alike...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

So, there's a chance that there's an afterlife, I mean if the brain isn't the SOURCE of conciousness? But are you sure it's popular? I heard neurologists were strictly "Brain is the source"