In this session, we explored another round of scientific critiques against plant sentience, revealing scientific resistance or a recurring pattern—if plants aren’t like animals, they must not be sentient. But is this the right way to approach the question?
One paper challenged this thinking, suggesting that plant sentience might exist on a completely different timescale and sensory framework—one we simply don’t yet know how to measure. But the others? They dismissed plant experiments outright, arguing that methodologies based on animal cognition don’t work (which raises the real question: why aren’t we developing methods that do?).
And then there was the final paper—the most jarring of all. It openly warned that acknowledging too many beings as sentient would dilute the concept of sentience itself. A statement that makes it clear: this is about preserving human and animal exceptionalism, not true exploration.
If science truly aims to uncover truth, shouldn’t it be asking new questions instead of forcing plants into old models? Let’s talk about it.
💬 What do you think—is science resisting or simply stuck?
Commentary against plant sentience within Naturally Conscious Community:
Where we explore all things plant neurobiology, plant cognition, plant intelligence, plant humanities, and the birth of critical plant studies through the lens of personal evolution. Livestreams are every Friday on Youtube.
Be a part of the conversation in the Naturally Conscious Community
Let’s talk more in the only online ecosystem that nourishes plant reawakening for enhanced evolution and collaboration with our plant friends. Connect with nature-conscious creatives, multipotentialites, and naturentrepreneurs who share your desire for more interspecies relationships. >> JOIN OUR COMMUNITY <<
Looking for a mentor/coach to help you confidently embody a Naturally Conscious Life? Book a discovery call here, and let’s discuss how I can support you.
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Tigrilla Gardenia
Rethinking Sentience: Scientific Resistance or a Flawed Framework?
In this session, we explored another round of scientific critiques against plant sentience, revealing scientific resistance or a recurring pattern—if plants aren’t like animals, they must not be sentient. But is this the right way to approach the question?
One paper challenged this thinking, suggesting that plant sentience might exist on a completely different timescale and sensory framework—one we simply don’t yet know how to measure. But the others? They dismissed plant experiments outright, arguing that methodologies based on animal cognition don’t work (which raises the real question: why aren’t we developing methods that do?).
And then there was the final paper—the most jarring of all. It openly warned that acknowledging too many beings as sentient would dilute the concept of sentience itself. A statement that makes it clear: this is about preserving human and animal exceptionalism, not true exploration.
If science truly aims to uncover truth, shouldn’t it be asking new questions instead of forcing plants into old models? Let’s talk about it.
💬 What do you think—is science resisting or simply stuck?
Commentary against plant sentience within Naturally Conscious Community:
Ongoing debate against plant sentience started by Miguel Segundo-Ortin and Paco Calvo’s call for replies to their paper Plant Sentience? Between Romanticism and Denial: Science. Watch the series:
🌿 Replies to Segundo-Ortin & Calvo’s Provocations on Plant Sentience
🌿 More Replies to Provocations on Plant Sentience
🌿 More Denials of Plant Sentience, Yet There Is Hope
🌿 More Evidence Against Plant Sentience or Simply Not Enough For?
LIVE Plant Consciousness Commentary every Friday
Where we explore all things plant neurobiology, plant cognition, plant intelligence, plant humanities, and the birth of critical plant studies through the lens of personal evolution. Livestreams are every Friday on Youtube.
Be a part of the conversation in the Naturally Conscious Community
Let’s talk more in the only online ecosystem that nourishes plant reawakening for enhanced evolution and collaboration with our plant friends. Connect with nature-conscious creatives, multipotentialites, and naturentrepreneurs who share your desire for more interspecies relationships. >> JOIN OUR COMMUNITY <<
Get to Know Me, Tigrilla Gardenia
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Looking for a mentor/coach to help you confidently embody a Naturally Conscious Life? Book a discovery call here, and let’s discuss how I can support you.
Episodes related plant attention
More Evidence Against Plant Sentience or Simply Not Enough For?
More Denials of Plant Sentience, Yet There Is Hope
References
Plebe, Alessio (2023) Plant sentience: Time scale matters. Animal Sentience 33(22)
Baciadonna, Luigi; Macri, Catherine; and Giurfa, Martin (2023) Associative learning: Unmet criterion for plant sentience. Animal Sentience 33(23)
Dolega, Krzysztof; Siekierski, Savannah; and Cleeremans, Axel (2023) Plant sentience: Getting to the roots of the problem. Animal Sentience 33(24)
Ivanchei, Ivan; Coucke, Nicolas; and Cleeremans, Axel (2023) Dissociation between conscious and unconscious processes as a criterion for sentience. Animal Sentience 33(25)
Broom, Donald M (2023) Limits to sentience. Animal Sentience 33(26)
If you have a paper, essay, article, or video you would like me to comment on, send it to me!
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