Integrated information theory does not make plant consciousness more convincing.
Jon Mallatt, Lincoln Taiz, Andreas Draguhn, Michael R Blatt, David G Robinson
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications July 30, 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.01.022 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractSome plant scientists propose that plants are cognitive and conscious, but this remains a minority view. The authors summarize arguments against plant consciousness and critique a 2020 article by Calvo, Baluska, and Trewavas that cites Integrated Information Theory (IIT) as supporting plant consciousness. The critique argues that IIT does not restrict consciousness to living organisms and can apply to nonliving systems, undermining the claim. The authors conclude that IIT cannot prove plant consciousness, for which there is no empirical evidence or support from neuron-based theories of consciousness.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Cellular consciousness Neurobiological naturalism Plant consciousness Plant neurobiology |
| Key finding | Argues that Integrated Information Theory cannot be used to prove plant consciousness because it allows for consciousness in nonliving systems, and that there is neither empirical evidence nor support from neuron-based theories for plant consciousness. |
Abstract
It has been proposed by some plant scientists that plants are cognitive and conscious organisms, although this is a minority view. Here we present a brief summary of some of the arguments against this view, followed by a critique of an article in this same issue of Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications by Calvo, Baluska, and Trewavas (2020) that cites Integrated Information Theory (IIT) as providing additional support for plant consciousness. The authors base their argument on the assumptions that all cells are conscious and that consciousness is confined to life. However, IIT allows for consciousness in various nonliving systems, and thus does not restrict consciousness to living organisms. Therefore, IIT cannot be used to prove plant consciousness, for which there is neither empirical evidence nor support from other, neuron-based, theories of consciousness.