In order for a physical system to generate experiential qualities, it must exhibit a certain kind of interconnectivity and recursiveness, whether among neurons or among other similarly networked things (such as electrophysiological signaling in plants).
Consciousness is not restricted to brains. Any physical system properly configured to integrate information is, to some degree or another, theoretically conscious.
A World Appears (2026) by Michael Pollan
“It is a long time since my last visit,” said Dumbledore, peering down his crooked nose at Uncle Vernon. “I must say, your agapanthus are flourishing.”
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K.Rowling
Contrasting tones of red and blue create a distinctive mood, contributing to and emphasizing an aesthetic or emotional atmosphere. Is it romance, mystery, or nostalgia of some sort?
Walking in the park just the other day, what do you think I saw? Crowds of people sitting on the grass with flowers in their hair.
–Misty Mountain Hop by Led Zeppelin
Suns rise & set, but for us there’s one brief day and one perpetual night. So kiss me a thousand times.
The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith
A photograph can show a physical image in which time is static, and a mirror can show a physical image in which time is dynamic.
What he saw on the mountain was another kind of image altogether which was not physical and did not exist in time at all. It was an image nevertheless, and that is why he felt recognition.
Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
Intervals of peace come even in the midst of danger. We can take advantage of these intervals if we possess enough inner strength.
The I Ching or Book of Changes
The world of the materialist is a “bubble world”. Its inhabitants live inside a consumer-driven, status-obsessed bubble. Possession is key. Those who can see beyond the walls of the bubble are deemed mad & deluded. A gimpse of the truth will burst the fragile walls.
–The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith
Life is an experiment: we’re all testing hypotheses, learning from outcomes, and iterating as we go. Every choice is a variable, every experience a data point.
–Grok