Plant Sentience

[Nimos]

The deeper question is, if one realizes that they are one with everything, does that mean that when they eat a carrot, they are eating themselves?

It's extreme cannibalism

 

[Windwalker]

It's extreme cannibalism

It's actually ouroboros, the snake eating its own tail. Technically speaking that is true of nature itself and us as part of nature.

 

[Brickjectivity]

It's actually ouroboros, the snake eating its own tail. Technically speaking that is true of nature itself and us as part of nature.

That is the part of nature which I don't like: the cycle. How do we escape?

"Take comfort" says a wise one "someone will escape, someday. We can live vicariously for them."

Another says "Neither birth nor death are real, and there is no cycle."

Another says "Shut up and appreciate what you have."

 

[Jimmy]

Roses are read violets are blue sorry mr violet but I gotta mow you too.

 

[Stonetree]

I must grow dumb beans because I always have to guide them to the trellis.

Stop fondling your beans, Pervert!

 

[John53]

Stop fondling your beans, Pervert!

Take away one of the last pleasures in my life ya bully.

 

[Stonetree]

Simply put, sentient means the ability to have feelings. It’s the capacity for a creature to experience sensations and emotions.

 

[The Hammer]

That is the part of nature which I don't like: the cycle. How do we escape?

"Take comfort" says a wise one "someone will escape, someday. We can live vicariously for them."

Another says "Neither birth nor death are real, and there is no cycle."

Another says "Shut up and appreciate what you have."

I take the last approach. Simpler. If there is a cycle here, I'm glad to be a part of it. If I am released from it, would "I" even know?

 

[The Hammer]

Simply put, sentient means the ability to have feelings. It’s the capacity for a creature to experience sensations and emotions.

Emotions are very ill defined, and squishy things though. Sensations can be categorized quantitatively, emotion is less simple.

 

[Stonetree]

Emotions are very ill defined, and squishy things though. Sensations can be categorized quantitatively, emotion is less simple.

I will paste a reference from 'Merriam Webster'..........(this is not a rebuttal)
You may have guessed that sentient has something to do with the senses. The initial spelling sent- or sens- is often a giveaway for such a meaning. A sentient being is one who perceives and responds to sensations of whatever kind—sight, hearing, touch, taste, or smell. Sentient ultimately comes from the Latin verb sentire, which means "to feel" or "to perceive," and is related to the noun sensus, meaning "sense." A few related English words are sentiment and sentimental, which have to do with emotions, sensual, which relates to more physical sensations, and the trio of assent, consent, and dissent, which involve one's expressions of agreement (or disagreement in the case of dissent) in thought and feeling with another.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

I will paste a reference from 'Merriam Webster'..........(this is not a rebuttal)
You may have guessed that sentient has something to do with the senses. The initial spelling sent- or sens- is often a giveaway for such a meaning. A sentient being is one who perceives and responds to sensations of whatever kind—sight, hearing, touch, taste, or smell. Sentient ultimately comes from the Latin verb sentire, which means "to feel" or "to perceive," and is related to the noun sensus, meaning "sense." A few related English words are sentiment and sentimental, which have to do with emotions, sensual, which relates to more physical sensations, and the trio of assent, consent, and dissent, which involve one's expressions of agreement (or disagreement in the case of dissent) in thought and feeling with another.

Well, the weird one is if a thermostat is sentient as it "feels" heat. But that is in effect a philosophical question meant to force the consideration of what is lowest level of sensing in a physical sense. And there it is again.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Astrologer Linda Goodman was very adamant of the benefits(for all) of a 'fruits only' diet. Not culinary fruit, but eating only parts of the plant that wouldn't require the death of it. I thought it was an interesting idea.

She'd certainly have no trouble pooping.

 

[JustGeorge]

She'd certainly have no trouble pooping.

Pooping's important. You don't appreciate it until you can't.

 

[FredVB]

The Inner Lives of Plants: Cognition, Sentience, and Ethics

It would appear that we need to do more studies into the inner lives of the Plant Kingdom. It's apparent to most of us that are Animist, that plants have sentience, but is not a widely accepted position for sure.

"Plants are susceptible to anesthesia; lidocaine applied to roots works well to knock out plants."

""Plants display cognition—flexible and goal-directed behavior. When climbing a pole, a clever bean makes "broad, circular sweeps of their surroundings, growing as they go. As they home in on a pole, some beans will suddenly lunge towards it like a drunken pub-goer taking a swing at someone. It is a rapid, directed change in behaviour. This suggests the plant isn’t simply running a pre-programmed pole-seeking sequence." ""

IMO if a Jellyfish without a brain is considered living and sentient. Then why not plants?

I will go along with the position that if there is no nervous system and brain in an organism, that organism would not have sentient consciousness. Organisms in general can have responses to any of many sorts of stimulation, and organisms are all quite complicated in structure. But while it is interesting to learn of impressive responses some of the organisms really have, there isn't anything showing there is actual consciousness of anything without a nervous system and brain, and that indicates a nervous system and brain are really important for that. Even jellyfish would not have that, though they feed as animals do.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Plants to get rights? Lol. Rights to what? Not get mowed? Haha. Some species of flowers have been protected for years

Hm...why not? If we assume natural rights in humans as related to self-preservation, any living thing thus has natural rights.

 

[The Hammer]

Hm...why not? If we assume natural rights in humans as related to self-preservation, any living thing thus has natural rights.

*Winner*

 

[The Hammer]

I will go along with the position that if there is no nervous system and brain in an organism, that organism would not have sentient consciousness. Organisms in general can have responses to any of many sorts of stimulation, and organisms are all quite complicated in structure. But while it is interesting to learn of impressive responses some of the organisms really have, there isn't anything showing there is actual consciousness of anything without a nervous system and brain, and that indicates a nervous system and brain are really important for that. Even jellyfish would not have that, though they feed as animals do.

Whether there is "evidence" of it or not. The Natural world is waay more conscious and aware than we give credit.

Jellyfish are absolutely sentient, even if not in the same way as a human (why is 'human' the standard?).

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Whether there is "evidence" of it or not. The Natural world is waay more conscious and aware than we give credit.

Jellyfish are absolutely sentient, even if not in the same way as a human (why is 'human' the standard?).

Why is human the standard? Because that is the highest consciousness that we know of. We have yet to observe another species that displays a mind like our own with wide arrays of intelligence and emotions, as well as such a heightened self awareness, our unique ambitions and behaviors compared to other species… all of that gathered into one.

We highly value our conscious because that’s our species’ superior trait.

 

[The Hammer]

Why is human the standard? Because that is the highest consciousness that we know of. We have yet to observe another species that displays a mind like our own with wide arrays of intelligence and emotions, as well as such a heightened self awareness, our unique ambitions and behaviors compared to other species… all of that gathered into one.

We highly value our conscious because that’s our species’ superior trait.

The idea of human consciousness being considered the standard or the highest form of consciousness is a concept deeply rooted in human-centric perspectives and the limitations of our current understanding. Frequently, humans have been inclined to perceive themselves as superior to other species due to our cognitive abilities, self-awareness, and complex societies.

However, it is important to be aware of the fact that consciousness is a complex and multifaceted concept not yet fully understood. Consciousness itself is difficult to define and measure, which makes it challenging to compare and rank different forms of consciousness across species.

While humans possess unique cognitive abilities, emotions, and self-awareness, it doesn't necessarily mean that other species lack consciousness or have lesser forms of it. Many animals exhibit various forms of intelligence, social behavior, emotions, and self-awareness, although they may manifest in different ways than in humans.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

The idea of human consciousness being considered the standard or the highest form of consciousness is a concept deeply rooted in human-centric perspectives and the limitations of our current understanding. Frequently, humans have been inclined to perceive themselves as superior to other species due to our cognitive abilities, self-awareness, and complex societies.

However, it is important to be aware of the fact that consciousness is a complex and multifaceted concept not yet fully understood. Consciousness itself is difficult to define and measure, which makes it challenging to compare and rank different forms of consciousness across species.

I would say the things you have listed are very good traits to measure by (cognitive abilities, self awareness, and complex societies).

While humans possess unique cognitive abilities, emotions, and self-awareness, it doesn't necessarily mean that other species lack consciousness or have lesser forms of it. Many animals exhibit various forms of intelligence, social behavior, emotions, and self-awareness, although they may manifest in different ways than in humans.

Yes, but none have been proven to be as complex. Sure an elephant can paint, but can it paint the Mona Lisa? Sure a monkey can learn sign language, but can it develop a language so complex as the various ones humans have created? Sure dolphins have self awareness, but have they developed introspective philosophies to better understand who they are and their nature? Sure monkeys can use tools, but have they ever created a machine that can take them to the moon?

Humans are unsurpassable by any species when it comes to depth cognitive abilities.