Are plants sentient?

Calvo, Paco; Sahi, Vaidurya Pratap; Trewavas, Anthony

doi:10.1111/pce.13065

Cited by 64 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 116 publications

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“…When seeds ‘decide’ to germinate, or to activate dormancy processes, can be interpreted as a form of ‘intelligent behaviour’ (Trewavas, 2017). Trewavas asserted that the process of germination and the molecular and hormonal mechanisms involved in seed growth cannot be considered ‘behaviours’ but are essential actions for survival: “Without that, the individual does not develop at all.” Conversely, when the seed ‘decides’ to sprout, it can be considered a manifestation of plasticity, conditioned by the analysis of different environmental variables, and a potential ‘intelligent behaviour’ (Calvo et al, 2017; Trewavas, 2017). This analysis may seem forced, but perhaps the critical points expressed by some (Alpi et al, 2007; Adams, 2018; Taiz et al, 2019) are conditioned by an anthropocentric view of the phenomenon.…”

Section: Seeds: Between Dispersal and Germination Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nowadays, many biological science theorists are broadening the human concepts of memory, learning and communication beyond the animal kingdom and diverting their attention more towards the plant kingdom to understand these complex mechanisms (van Loon, 2016). Indeed, in the last 20 years, various studies have identified the ability of plants to ‘learn’ and ‘make choices’ (Trewavas, 2003; Ballare & Trewavas, 2009; Trewavas, 2012; Gagliano et al, 2016; Trewavas, 2016; Calvo et al, 2017; Gagliano et al, 2018; Segundo‐Ortin & Calvo, 2019). Some botanists and ecologists have observed how different areas of a plant, from the roots to the flowers, show ‘sentient’ attributes after specific stimulations from the environment (Gagliano et al, 2016; Gagliano et al, 2017; Gruntman et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Plant behaviour: an evolutionary response to the environment?

2020

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Plants are not just passive living beings that exist in nature. They are complex and highly adaptable species that react sensitively to environmental forces/stimuli with movement, morphological changes and through the communication via volatile molecules. In a way, plants mimic some traits of animal and human behaviour; they compete for limited resources by gaining more area for more sunlight and spread their roots underground. Furthermore, in order to survive and thrive, they evolve and ‘learn’ to control various environmental stress factors in order to increase the yield of flowering, fertilization and germination processes. The concept of associating complex behaviour, such as intelligence, with plants is still a highly debatable topic among researchers worldwide. Recent studies have shown that plants are able to discriminate between positive and negative experiences and ‘learn’ from them. Some botanists have interpreted these behavioural data as a form of primitive cognitive processes. Others have evaluated these responses as biological automatisms of plants determined by adaptation to the environment and absence of intelligence. This review aims to explore adaptive behavioural aspects of various plant species distributed in different ecosystems by emphasizing their biological complexity and survival instincts.

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Section: Seeds: Between Dispersal and Germination Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant behaviour: an evolutionary response to the environment?

2020

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“…To our knowledge, no study showed that plants are sentient. Plants or mushrooms have no organs with which to centralize information and create or process mental states (e.g., feelings) (Calvo et al, 2017; but see Pelizzon and Gagliano, 2015). However, this conceptualization of sentience as something needing centralization of information is quite human-centered.…”

Section: Extending Ethics To Non-animal Beingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, this conceptualization of sentience as something needing centralization of information is quite human-centered. Even if plants and mushrooms are not capable of sentience, they are at least capable of reception and integration of different information sources [e.g., chemical, visual, and tactile (Trewavas, 2016;Calvo et al, 2017)]. Some recent studies have shown that they are able to learn, react to mechanical stress, and even communicate (Poelman et al, 2012) about this stress (Khait et al, 2019).…”

Section: Extending Ethics To Non-animal Beingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Evolutionary Point of View of Animal Ethics

Criscuolo

Sueur

2020

Front. Psychol.

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“…Slowly, the true extent of plant intelligence is being comprehended (Mancuso and Viola 2015;Trewavas 2016;Haskell 2017). Indeed (Calvo et al 2017…”

Section: Howevermentioning

confidence: 99%

The Consciousness of Reality

Glattfelder¹

2019

Information—Consciousness—Reality

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Finally, the human mind faces its own nature. By extending the information-theoretic paradigm, the informational nature of consciousness is uncovered. This gives rise to the very first formal description of consciousness. In attempts to bridge the chasm between the objective and subjective, scientists and philosophers have opened up to the unspeakable. The nature of consciousness, as has been suggested by ancient Eastern and shamanic traditions, is necessarily universal and primal. The notion of spirituality is creeping back into science. Moving towards a more empirical analysis, the enigma of intelligence is discussed, arising in decentralized systems and even in inanimate structures. Then, the surprising therapeutic effects of psychedelics is discovered, next to a myriad of transcendental planes of being, accessible to pure consciousness. Moreover, peer-reviewed studies are appearing in the physics literature describing mind-matter interactions in double-slit quantum experiments-a long suspected connection by many pioneers of quantum mechanics. As the cracks in the current edifice of science continually grow, the new informationtheoretic paradigm is embraced. Beginning with an information ontology, a radical participatory ontology is hinted at. In essence, the human mind is witnessing the most radical paradigm shift in its own history. The well-served and previously glorious materialistic and reductionistic scientific worldview is yielding to a novel scientific conception of subjective consciousness and objective reality-and their unexpected intimate kinship. Level of mathematical formality: low. Consciousness is a truly puzzling phenomenon. For one, my own consciousness is the only element of existence I am personally aware of. Through the flow of subjective experiences I perceive an external reality and myself demarcated from it. I assume that other human minds-and to some extent non-human minds-experience a similar structure in this eternal moment of "now." Strangely however, the subjective itself is very hard to objectify. The totality of perception, including every memory, is notoriously unreliable and misleading (Chap. 11). How then, should one try to comprehend the fundamental nature of consciousness? Moreover, is the external world our senses are seemingly reporting to us about really "out there?"

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Are plants sentient?

Cited by 64 publications

References 116 publications

Plant behaviour: an evolutionary response to the environment?

Plant behaviour: an evolutionary response to the environment?

An Evolutionary Point of View of Animal Ethics

The Consciousness of Reality

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