What Humans, Animals and Plants Tell Us About Consciousness | Michael Pollan

Pollan argues consciousness may originate in bodily feelings, not cortical computation, undermining assumptions behind both AI consciousness claims and human exceptionalism.

• No settled theory: Pollan says after years studying consciousness he concludes "we have no fucking idea" how brain matter generates it, if it even does.
• Feelings before thought: Citing Antonio Damasio and Mark Solms, Pollan argues consciousness may originate as homeostatic feelings in the brainstem, not cortical thought—implying far more species (and even decorticated humans) are conscious.

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