Animal consciousness... have we been wrong?

[VulcanWerks]

I was always annoyed by the claims that other intelligent mammals have some second-rate experience in perceiving their environment.

I agree with that.

Some animals are less “expressive” or maybe “obviously” expressive.

That doesn’t mean that they aren’t conscious of their environment.

Then again, I’m of the mind that “consciousness” is both individual and collective. We are all part of this “conscious” world. Using a crude example, does a spider run away when you try to smash it? It does. It is experiencing the same conscious reality you are.

If we then draw the line of consciousness at being aware of one’s own mortality then I think you have a definitional problem. When you were a kid, were you aware of your mortality? I don’t think so. Or at least, certainly not worried about it.


I’m rambling now so TLDR: Just now saying that animals are “concious” seems incredibly silly to me. Just ask my Corgi’s - I assure you they are conscious.