(03-17-2015, 02:31 PM)Shemaya Wrote:(03-17-2015, 02:20 PM)Matt1 Wrote: Plants are conscious as well, it was shown in Primary Perception.
Consciousness it literally fundamental and the root of all things in creation.
The article seemed to imply that animals develop consciousness as a result of their biology, ie. neural substrates. Like consciousness is an epiphenomenon of our biology. That is a materialist, non-spiritual point of view. Everything derives from consciousness, the sun the earth, the galaxy, the animal, the plants, the humans.
You are missing the point of the article. It is about mainstream science finally getting onboard from their point of view, and the author is in hopes that this will mean better treatment of animals. To keep veering off this idea by talking about the consciousness of all things philosophically is okay, but how does that address compassion for animals?
For instance, consider the suffering animals experience because of animal testing. Talk all you want about the philosophy of consciousness, that's fine, but this author has been trying to awaken the public to change public acceptance of animal cruelty. If now, you would like to iterate that all is accepted because of the LOO, fine. If anyone can stomach such cruelty and be fine with it, that's the individual's prerogative.