Quote:
Originally Posted by John Wilkes Booth
it sounds like you're saying suffering isn't necessary for consciousness but then you go on to describe "a lifeform that just does cognitive computations without experiencing them." this doesn't sound like consciousness to me.
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Yes, you're right; it wouldn't be consciousness - point being that in terms of evolution and life, consciousness isn't necessary to replicate and ensure the survival of your kin. There's nothing particularly superior about cognitive function either. Bacteria do a lot better than us in numbers without cognitive functions. Parasites regularly make prey of us.