re: #352 keloyd

if the question is defining what is a human, tests of consciousness or self awareness are problematic. Lots of animals are more self aware and able to pass tests of consciousness or awareness than very early newborns, whom we agree ought to pass that test. They just make a racket and eat and poop. It’s just the basic lizard parts of the brain doing most of the work those first few weeks, yet we want babies (and me when I’m asleep) to pass the “is it human” test and Irish setters to score “not human.”

Only a handful of animals are able to pass the self-awareness test as defined by recognizing that their image in a mirror is just that - their own image, and not a separate animal. Surprisingly enough, pigeons are in this elite category.

(start pigeon jokes in 5, 4, 3, 2…)