Conscious Living

Philosophy | What is Consciousness? Do Animals have Consciousness? ft. movie ‘Okja’.

Hi Folks,

Today, I wanted to talk about consciousness. While watching Yuval Noal Harari’s video, I was surprised to hear that scientists are still trying to prove if animals have consciousness. His intended lecture was to cover what differentiates us in the age of AI, but I could not help but get stuck in this notion of animals and consciousness. He went on to say the only reason we are allowed to eat and treat animals the way we do today is because in the eyes of the law, we don’t see them as ‘conscious’ beings like humans. Of course, some scientists are trying to prove otherwise - this will have a ripple effect on how we treat animals (eating animals for consumption, using them for scientific research purposes, and the ways in which we slaughter them for meat).

I remember hearing one of the American stand-up comedians say the only reason we eat cows but not our dogs is because cows don't have first names. We would not eat a cow named ‘Tim’ for instance. Audiences laughed but I could not help but wonder why cows don’t have first names… On this note, if you want some movie inspiration for the weekend, here is the movie for you: Okja. It can make you wonder about animals’ consciousness.

This is the lecture by Yuval Noah Harari that got me to think about 'consciousness'.

Here is the movie trail on 'Okja (2017)'. Highly recommend it!

"Okja" is a 2017 film directed by Bong Joon-ho. The movie follows the story of a young girl named Mija who lives in the mountains of South Korea with her grandfather and a genetically engineered super pig named Okja. Okja was one of many pigs created by a powerful corporation called the Mirando Corporation, who aims to raise them as a new source of food.

After ten years of living with Mija, Okja is taken by the corporation to New York City as part of a public relations campaign. Mija then sets out on a mission to rescue her beloved pet, encountering an animal rights group called the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) along the way.

The film explores themes of animal rights, corporate greed, and the ethics of genetic modification. It is a thought-provoking and emotional film that challenges viewers to think critically about the relationship between humans and animals, and the impact of corporate power on the environment and society. If you haven’t watched it yet, I highly recommend it!

🧠 I. Definition: what is consciousness?

Consciousness is generally understood as the state or quality of being aware of one's thoughts, feelings, sensations, and surroundings. It is the subjective experience of the world that we have as individuals and is often described as the "stream of consciousness" that flows through our minds.

There are many theories about what causes consciousness and how it works. Some theories suggest that it emerges from complex computations in the brain, while others propose that it is an inherent property of the universe itself. Some researchers also study altered states of consciousness, such as during meditation, sleep, or under the influence of certain drugs, in order to better understand the nature of consciousness.

Here are what famous people said about consciousness:

Yuval Noah Harari:"Consciousness is a mental state that allows us to model the world and our own minds within the world, to represent reality to ourselves, and to communicate that representation to others." - Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow (2016)

Bill Gates:"I am very interested in the question of whether machines can be conscious and creative, and I think the answer is yes. But that doesn't mean we'll be creating machines that are like humans anytime soon." - Reddit Ask Me Anything (2017)

Elon Musk:"Maybe we're in a simulation, maybe we're not, maybe we're in a simulation and we're conscious, and maybe we're not. I think most likely, this is just a really good simulation. Either that, or it's real." - Code Conference (2016)

Eckhart Tolle:"Consciousness is not limited to human beings; it is everywhere in the universe." - The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment (1997)

Joe Dispenza:"Consciousness is awareness, and awareness is paying attention to something that you've never paid attention to before." - Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One (2012)

AI Scientists:"The emergence of AI systems with general cognitive abilities comparable to humans may lead to the creation of conscious machines." - The Cambridge Handbook of Artificial Intelligence (2020)

Plato:"Attention to the soul, I said, has been shown to be the first step toward knowing." - Phaedo (380 BCE)

"Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind." - The Republic (380 BCE)

"Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet." - Symposium (385-370 BCE)

Aristotle:"The soul never thinks without a mental picture." - De Anima (350 BCE)

"Soul is the first actuality of a natural body that is potentially alive." - De Anima (350 BCE)

Socrates:"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." - Source: Apology (399 BCE)

"I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think." - The Trials of Socrates by C. D. C. Reeve (2002)

🏹 II. Various perspectives on consciosuness

Here's a brief overview of how consciousness is understood in various religious, philosophical, and scientific traditions:

*Religious Views:

In Hinduism and Buddhism, consciousness is seen as the fundamental essence of all existence, and is often equated with the ultimate reality or divine nature of the universe.
Hinduism - the Upanishads: Describe consciousness as the "Atman," or the innermost essence of the self. "The Atman, smaller than the smallest, greater than the greatest, is hidden in the heart of every creature" (Chandogya Upanishad).
Buddhism: "Consciousness is like a magician's illusion; it appears to be present, but in reality it is not" (Diamond Sutra).
In Christianity, consciousness is often seen as the soul, which is believed to be a gift from God and is separate from the physical body and immortal.
"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26).
In Islam, consciousness is viewed as a gift from Allah, and is believed to be the source of human morality and ethics.

*Philosophical Views:

In philosophy, consciousness is often studied under the branch of metaphysics, and is considered to be one of the most difficult problems in philosophy. Some philosophers, such as Descartes, have viewed consciousness as an inherently non-physical phenomenon that is distinct from the material world.
Descartes:"I am, I exist, is necessarily true every time I conceive of it in my mind" (Meditations on First Philosophy).
Other philosophers, such as David Chalmers, have proposed that consciousness is a fundamental aspect of the universe, and that it cannot be reduced to purely physical or biological processes.
"Consciousness poses the most baffling problems in the science of the mind" (The Conscious Mind).

*Scientific Views:

In neuroscience, consciousness is studied as a complex phenomenon that arises from the interactions between neurons and brain regions.
"Consciousness...appears to be an emergent property of the way information is processed in the brain" (Francis Crick).
Some researchers have proposed that consciousness emerges from the integration of information across multiple brain regions, while others have suggested that it may be related to specific brain waves or patterns of neural activity.
In psychology, consciousness is often studied as the subjective experience of awareness, and is considered to be an important aspect of mental health and well-being.
"Consciousness is the quality or state of being aware of an external object or something within oneself" (David Chalmers).

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 III. How do we know humans have consciousness?

The question of how we know humans have consciousness is a complex one that has been debated by philosophers and scientists for centuries.

One way we can approach this question is by looking at the subjective experiences that are associated with consciousness. Consciousness is often described as the subjective experience of awareness, which includes sensations, emotions, thoughts, and perceptions. These experiences are not directly observable by others, but they are known to each individual who experiences them.

Another way we can approach this question is by looking at the relationship between brain activity and conscious experience. Neuroscientists have found that certain patterns of brain activity are consistently associated with specific conscious experiences. For example, activity in the visual cortex is associated with visual perception, while activity in the amygdala is associated with the experience of fear.

Additionally, there are various tests and measures that can be used to assess consciousness, such as the Glasgow Coma Scale, which measures the level of consciousness in people with traumatic brain injuries.

While the nature of consciousness and how it arises in the brain is still not fully understood, the subjective experiences associated with consciousness and the consistent associations between brain activity and conscious experience suggest that humans do indeed have consciousness.

🐮 IV. How do we know animals and plants have consciousness?

The question of whether animals have consciousness is a topic of debate among scientists and philosophers. While it is difficult to definitively answer this question, there is evidence to suggest that many animals do have some level of consciousness.

For example, studies have shown that some animals have self-awareness, can recognize themselves in mirrors, and can experience emotions. Some animals also have the ability to plan for the future, make decisions, and engage in complex social behaviors. All of these abilities suggest that these animals may have some level of consciousness.

As for plants, the question of whether they have consciousness is even more controversial. While some scientists and philosophers have proposed that plants may have some kind of consciousness, others argue that this is unlikely given that plants lack a central nervous system and brain-like structures.

☘️ V. Conclusion

Overall, the question of consciousness in non-human organisms is an area of ongoing research and debate, and more studies are needed to fully understand the nature of consciousness and how it arises in different species.

As we continue to explore the nature of consciousness, we are forced to confront some of the biggest and most enduring questions about human existence. What is the nature of the self? What is the relationship between the mind and the body? What is the meaning and purpose of human consciousness? While we may never fully unravel the mysteries of consciousness, continued research and inquiry will undoubtedly bring us closer to understanding this fundamental aspect of our existence. Whether through scientific investigation, philosophical discourse, or spiritual contemplation, our exploration of consciousness offers endless opportunities for reflection and self-discovery, and holds the promise of unlocking new insights into the nature of the human experience.

What do you think? Please share your thoughts on consciousness - humans, animals and plants! :D

🛰️ VI. Suggested references on human consciousness:

📚 Books:

The Conscious Mind: In Search of a Fundamental Theory by David Chalmers
The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind by Julian Jaynes
The Feeling of What Happens: Body and Emotion in the Making of Consciousness by Antonio Damasio
Consciousness Explained by Daniel Dennett
The Self Illusion: How the Social Brain Creates Identity by Bruce Hood

📚 Academic Research:

📻 Podcasts:

The Consciousness Podcast by Stuart Preston
The Psychology Podcast by Scott Barry Kaufman

💡 Blogs:

Neuroscience News
The Journal of Consciousness
The Brain Dialogue by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function
The Consciousness Blog by the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness, Oxford University
The Neuroethics Blog by the Center for Neuroscience and Society at the University of Pennsylvania

📺 YouTube Videos: