Of course they have consciousness. So what?
They had a conference at NYU, and 40 “experts”–they call themselves scientists (oh, please)–signed “the New York Declaration of Animal Consciousness” (https://legalinsurrection.com/2024/04/scientists-sign-declaration-proclaiming-fish-lobsters-octopi-and-insects-have-consciousness/). It applies not just to mammals, but also to reptiles, fish, insects, lobsters and octopi… and just another any other kind of animal you can think of.
The, er, scientists said that in light of these probabilities, or “risks,” we humans must think about our “responses” to these… well, they call them “findings.”
What responses? We’re not told, so we have to guess. Are we going to be called upon to stop eating any animal that might have consciousness? Meanwhile, the Bezos Earth Fund has invested $60 million in a search for “alternative proteins,” aka “Sustainable Proteins.” Watch out for that word “sustainable.” It means trouble for normal people.
I’m sure animals do have some form of consciousness. My iguana, my friend for 17 years, had piles of consciousness (he thought he was a mammal, and behaved accordingly). We wouldn’t have pets if they were incapable of relating to us in various pleasant ways. It’s not just cats and dogs.
But what are these “responses” to be? Oh, wait, I know! We all eat fake meat cooked up in the lab and make Jeff Bezos richer. That’ll last until some more scientists declare fruits and vegetables have consciousness.
Getting harder and harder to “trust the science,” isn’t it?