Bacteria and the cellular basis of consciousness
M. Woodruff
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Reber's Cellular Basis of Consciousness theory fails because bacterial chemotaxis is explained by genetic mechanisms without sentience, and because genetic analysis shows no continuity between bacterial bio-sensitivity and that of species with nervous systems, so sentience is not evolutionarily foundational. |
Abstract
According to Reber’s theory, the Cellular Basis of Consciousness (CBC), sentience originates as bio-sensitivity in unicellular organisms. For this reason, Reber regards sentience as evolutionarily foundational. Many bacteria show chemotaxis and, thus, according to CBC, they are sentient. Analysis of the genetic mechanisms underlying bacterial chemotaxis indicates that sentience has no explanatory power in this case. Genetic analysis also fails to show species continuity underlying bio-sensitivity in bacteria and bio-sensitivity in species with nervous systems, so it does not seem that sentience is evolutionary foundational. CBC is rejected on these grounds.