Originally posted by river-wind
If it's just chemical in plants, where do we stand? Our awareness seems to be closly tied to, and can be altered by, chemical componants. Is our reaction just chemically driven? Many times, it seems to be. other times, it seems to not be. What drives human actions? If we can figure that out, I bet we can figure out if plant feel pain.
What reason do we have to believe it is not simply chemical for us as well?
When we are cold, the warmth "feels" good so we are drawn to it.
When a potentailly damaging amount of heat is applied to our skin, it hurts and forces us to pull away from it.
Since we do have a central nervous system and it is the system which provides us with our means of experiencing external stimuli, and we have a brain which controls our reactions to these external stimuli, then the most efficient and expedient way to force us to protect ourselves from this danger is to chemically produce a sensation of extreme discomfort.
The value and deep meaning of pain, emotions, pleasure etc, are nothing more than the creation of an active human imagination.
The reality is that they are simple chemical reactions to stimuli.
Canute,
I am not sure if I fully understood your assertion, but...
It does not
negate consciousness.
It
uses consciousness to effect and immediate positive response.
**All of this is just the opinion of an uneducated layman. I am not claiming this as fact and I can't support worth a shit. But I still like to argue it.