[themafia]

I feel like consciousness is an emergent phenomenon derived from several brain processes that constructively overlap. Many mammals have several necessary elements but lack the complete set of structures necessary to achieve what an average human would identify as "consciousness."

Which is why we can probably find loads of examples /and/ counter-examples of "consciousness" throughout the animal kingdom.

We already know that our left and right brain hemispheres are quite different and play significant roles in this process. It then seems that we are not, from first principles, even capable of observing all of the individual elements that make up our "minds."

It's sort of like pornography. I can't define it. I just know it when I see it.

[kreyenborgi]

How would you know? What evidence can you put forth that say a dog or dormouse does not have a conscious experience, but your next door neighbour (presumably human) has?

[themafia]

Behavioral observation.