Epistemology The Philosophers’ Menu 4 May 2010 The Philosophers’ Menu Presuppositions. Kantelope Assorted carnaps Pareto soup Hart-boyled eggs with a rescher of bacon Major Premises Jugged hare, with milled popper Skinnered peacocke, with nashed paretos Plato’ the Day Humeburger, with gibbard gravy Frankfurts and schauer kraut Bass van frassen [sic] Nagels and lockes Frege legs with russell… Read More
Humor Math and urine 16 Sep 2009 I just had to bring this blag post by Randall Munroe on the mathematics of the right choice of urinal to use in mens rooms to your attention. How can one not like a post that describes the ICUP (International Choice of Urinal Protocol) thus: Read More
Epistemology Quark Philosophy Blog Awards 3 Sep 200918 Sep 2017 Yes, you can vote for your favourite philosophy blog entry. In addition to a certain immodest antipodean ape, there are a number of other interesting posts I have bolded in the list beneath the fold. You choose. No pressure… Read More
John, where do you draw the line on which animals have consciousness? Obviously a lot homo sapiens have it. Not all of course. Do you think the other great Apes have some level of consciousness? What about other mamals like dogs and cats? I reckon my cat knows what he’s up to, and he spends an bit of time in front of the mirror admiring his reflection. Some birds seem to be pretty good at problem solving, e.g. corvids, but does that mean they have any consciousness? And then there’s those cephalopods beloved by PZ?
Seriously that’s a complex question. The short answer is that I think there is no single state or property of consciousness, so no boundary. It depends on what you are tracking.
Fair enough, that’s how I see it. I was just asking after you mentioned that chickens have no consciousness. I don’t think chickens are up there in introspection and internal life, but I have no idea if they do or don’t ponder the existential angst of a diet of snails or pellets. Probably unlikely.
Speaking of zombies, I’ve seen a chicken dance (well, run around like …) after a voodoo priest bit its head off. But I couldn’t figure out what it was thinking. Probably, it just wanted to be loved.