Are plants conscious?
We are very anthropomorphic and judge any and everything by its similarity to us.
Plants are very different to us.
Because of the way they feed they do not require specialised organs. They do not need to move.
But plant cells are extremely complex – much more complex than any animal cells. They are much more evolved.
Our brain, which is the seat of our consciousness, works on ionic balances creating changes in cell polarisation.
All plant cells utilise the same system.
Is it possible that the whole of a plant operates like our brains?
Do plants think?
If so this has great implications for vegetarians and salad eaters.
To be eaten alive cannot be pleasant.
The real question for Tubularsock is “Are humans conscious”?
Plants seem, in general, to work well together.
Yeah – good point Tub – but I thought I’d start at the top and work down.
Lots of debate on-line about this topic Opher. It is a fascinating debate. Suggestions put forward include plant-life might have intelligence, memory and the ability to learn: that indeed they are a conscious entity. Other arguments posit the idea that plants are mechanistic and not conscious.
At the fundamental level, the search for a adequate, far-reaching, inclusive, and intellectually advanced, nay, evolved, definition of consciousness continues.
DN
I find it fascinating. There is some evidence for awareness in plants. Makes sense to me as a biologist. It’s an area that needs a lot more research, me thinks.
Seems to me there is a whole lot of stuff just waiting to be discovered and once we do, there will be a whole lot more stuff to research beyond that….the journey is never-ending.
Wiki has an interesting entry on ‘panpsychism’. (1) A starting point for reading further perhaps?
DN
(1) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panpsychism
DN
What a great philosophy. I like the sound of it. I am very spiritually attracted to many things like rocks and trees. That’s why I photograph.
When once in the distance past we were more closely aligned, spiritually and physically, with our environment we attached huge significance to nature and deities would abound in our surroundings: as if we were aware all matter was conscious. Seems to me that evolution is bringing us back to that state, albeit through the evolution of sciences. ‘Tis a fascinating time to be alive.
Enjoy your day. Later alligator,
DN
The world is stranger than we could ever have imagined!
Everything the power of the world does is done in a circle. Blacl Elk.