Originally Posted By: ImagingGeek
There are actually some standardized tests that work for animals, at least. Self-recognition is one - be it in a mirror, in playbacks of calls, etc.


Ah, I thought there might be. But I wonder if those tests are just designed so they'll work for animals that we already assume are conscious? An animal/entity that has no way to communicate, other than by us directly observing its internal workings, would surely be pretty hard to test. - Good example, someone in a coma(?) who's conscious but has no muscle control at all.

I suppose that Chinese room thought experiment kind of highlights that we may have no way to really be sure.


Last edited by kallog; 06/07/10 05:31 AM.