Michael Pollan's New Book Probes the Mysteries of Consciousness
In his latest work, A World Appears, journalist and polymath Michael Pollan embarks on a kaleidoscopic exploration of consciousness, challenging long-held notions about the mind as a mere machine. This unsettling yet life-affirming investigation bridges science and the humanities, offering a fresh perspective on self-awareness and the richness of human and non-human experience.
Rethinking the Machine Metaphor
Pollan begins by referencing Charles Scott Sherrington's poetic description of the brain as an "enchanted loom," a metaphor from over 80 years ago that still influences how we conceptualise the mind. He argues that society has become trapped in narratives comparing brains to clocks, looms, or computers, such as terms like "hardwired" or "processing information." These metaphors, Pollan contends, obscure the true complexity of consciousness, limiting our understanding of what it means to be aware.
Plant Sentience and Neurobiology
A pivotal moment in Pollan's journey occurred after he took magic mushrooms, leading him to perceive plants as sentient beings. This insight aligns with the field of plant neurobiology, where scientists study how plants exhibit intelligence without neurons. Pollan details how plants can learn, form memories, predict environmental changes, and communicate through chemical or electrical signals. He cites research by Michael Levin on bioelectricity in cells, which suggests even simple organisms can store memories. This chapter raises profound questions: Can plants make decisions? Do they feel pain? Pollan carefully navigates between anthropomorphism and denial, classifying plants as "sentient" rather than conscious, viewing sentience as an evolutionary precursor to full consciousness.
Consciousness and Emotion in Humans and AI
Pollan distinguishes consciousness by its connection to emotion, which scientists locate in the ancient upper brainstem, shared with other species. He explores attempts to create conscious artificial intelligence by endowing it with feelings like hunger or thirst. However, he notes that AI registering information differs fundamentally from human feeling, highlighting the uniqueness of our consciousness. One researcher provocatively asks why scientists don't "just have a baby" instead, underscoring the ethical and practical challenges of replicating human experience.
Critiquing Theories and Embracing Subjectivity
Pollan expresses frustration with dominant theories of consciousness, such as global workspace theory, which he finds soulless and reductionist. He argues that none of the approximately 22 existing theories adequately resolve the "problem" of consciousness, as machine-based metaphors fail to capture the fluid, biological nature of the mind. Drawing inspiration from William James, Pollan embraces subjective approaches, experimenting on his own mind with a social psychologist. He discovers that inner experiences often defy language, reminding readers through Buddhist thought and modernist literature that consciousness is constantly in flux.
Resistance to Technological Reductionism
The book serves as a critique of scientific and technological reductionism, echoing works like Siri Hustvedt's The Delusions of Certainty. Pollan warns that theories can inflict "violence" on consciousness by distancing us from our inner lives. He cites MIT sociologist Sherry Turkle's observation that technology can make us forget life's truths. Pollan suggests the real danger lies not in creating conscious AI, but in allowing technology to impoverish our conception of the human mind, potentially mistaking information processing for genuine awareness.
In A World Appears, Pollan invites readers to reconsider consciousness beyond mechanical analogies, advocating for a reacquaintance with the wonders of our own minds in an age dominated by technology.
