Bacterial colonies and forests possess a form of subjective experience just like humans do.
Consciousness is often described as a unique miracle produced only by complex animal brains. This paper argues that subjectivity is actually a fundamental attribute of any collective action where multiple parts coordinate as one. When bacteria work together to find food or plants communicate through roots, they are engaging in a form of conscious experience. It means that having a perspective is not a biological peak but a basic requirement for any group of living things to function. This theory shifts our understanding of the mind from a neurological mystery to a universal law of nature.
Collective Means Conscious
SSRN · 6612379
<p><span>What is the nature of consciousness? How and why did it arise? What is the source of subjectivity </span><span>as a key aspect of consciousness? The short answer to all three questions is collective behavior. This study </span><span>presents the collective theory of consciousness, which views consciousness as collective or shared </span><span>knowledge that coordinates collective behavior. These findings demonstrate that any collective or </span><span>collective organism, including plan