Âé¶¹´«Ã½

Letter: The debate regarding consciousness rumbles on (1)

Published 12 November 2025

From Andy McGee, Adelaide, South Australia

Further to your exploration of the wide variety of ideas about consciousness, biological consciousness is the only one we know exists. It is most likely to have come from an evolutionary process that involves reaction to stimuli, which allows entities to find energy sources. As such, levels of awareness in the biological world range from basic heat and light sensing to complex, abstract thought. Ice senses heat and reacts by melting, but it is probably not considered conscious by most (25 October, p 36).

Issue no. 3569 published 15 November 2025

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with Âé¶¹´«Ã½ events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop