[daveFNbuck]

> At the most abstract interpretation I think consciousness can be defined as a closed system that contain both input and output, in which information is gathered and alters some component of the system itself.

This is very similar to the definition I was given for "robot" in an embedded systems course.

[justwalt]

I think this is the point that the poster is trying to make. They’re saying it’s difficult to declare something conscious or not using exact criteria.

A popular definition (in my experience) is the existence of a central nervous system, but we don’t really know whether or not that’s responsible for consciousness. I wonder if we’ll ever know for sure.

[matt-attack]

Well an unconscious body has a central nervous system but is clearly not conscious.