[nomailing]

> My basic intuition is that consciousness arises as a byproduct of any sufficiently interconnected (i.e. Complex) network which processes input from the outside world.

I think you are underestimating the importance of the motor/action system for the development of consciousness. Many neuroscientists and robotic researchers think that the sensory-motor-environment-sensory loop plays an important role for consciousness. This loop allows you to unsupervised learn all sorts of laws of physics and allows you to think that your body actually is you and not just an extension of your mind and therefore also allows the development of the concept of self awareness. Some researchers might call this sensory-motor-contingencies or embodiment. I think when talking about consciousness there it is very important to take into account this loop and not only the sensory perception and building a neural representation of the world...

[aroman]

I definitely agree with you — I think interacting with the environment is an important part of "processing" it. The motor/action feedback loop (cf. artificial motor control in monkeys) is exactly what I had in mind when I said that "touch" is a big one.

I definitely should have clarified that point, though, as it's a huge one, I agree!

[ridgeguy]

Agreed.

The only proof of consciousness case we have (i.e., consciousness arising from Big Bang gases and getting to this conversation) incorporated sense-motor-environment-sense loops. Don't know if it can happen without such interactions, but the one route we know worked, used them.