On AI consciousness: aim lower than consensus, seek a botanical conscience

erikphoel · x · 2026-11-13

In a debate with Ruxandra Teslo and Erik Hoel, philosopher Ralph Stefan Weir argues that consensus on the nature and value of consciousness may be unreachable, but there's value in aiming lower: just as we can't prove flowers don't suffer when picked yet still act with a clear "botanical conscience," we should seek the same practical moral footing for AI.

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