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I think that means we didn't have a good definition or understanding to begin with

Yep, that's what I'm saying. But what's more important is why are we trying to find the meaning of it in the first place?

I guess the idea is that if 2 beings are conscious there may exist some mechanism to transfer information between them?

Understanding what is conscious is and how it comes about seems interesting. I think currently it falls more into the philosophical sphere of science rather then biological or physics. Maybe once more is understood about human consciousness we will be able to categorize and add other life forms and consciousness types to this list.

Yeah I guess you can even say at what point is "communication" actual communication vs a response to stimulus? We can communicate with humans through speech. We can partially communicate to animals like dogs through speech. Is exerting a force on an insect an act of communication? How about excreting some chemical near an amoeba? Then back to mycelium, does stepping on a forest mycelium carpet constitute communication and thus consciousness?

It's all very fascinating but it seems to break down very quickly as the definitions mean nothing.

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