Jonathan Birch on Sentience and Intelligence

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Introduction

In The Edge of Sentience (Oxford University Press, 2024), philosophy professor Jonathan Birch examines the concept of sentience, particularly its relationship to intelligence. He explores how sentience is identified in various species, including invertebrates and insects, and discusses the challenges of distinguishing true sentience from complex behavior. His work presents a structured approach to evaluating sentience and draws conclusions about its presence in both animals and artificial intelligence.

Sentience and Intelligence: A Methodological Connection

Birch makes a clear distinction between sentience and intelligence, noting that while intelligence can aid in detecting sentience, the two are not equivalent. Sentience refers to the capacity to experience sensations like pain and pleasure, whereas intelligence relates to problem-solving and learning abilities.

“Crucially, we need to be open to the possibility that animals which fail to set the world alight with their intelligence may nonetheless be sentient.” (p. 239)

He explains that intelligent animals, such as octopuses, can use their cognitive abilities to demonstrate behaviors that indicate sentience. However, he cautions against assuming that less intelligent animals—such as crabs and lobsters—lack sentience simply because they do not display advanced problem-solving skills.

Invertebrate and Insect Sentience

Birch argues that sentience should not be restricted to vertebrates and suggests that certain invertebrates and insects may also experience sensations. He highlights the central complex in insects as a potential structure linked to conscious processing and proposes that all adult insects should be considered "sentience candidates."

“It would be a double standard to restrict our precautionary thinking to just some insects while extending it to all fishes.” (p. 272)

This perspective challenges traditional views that limit sentience to mammals, birds, and some highly intelligent invertebrates like octopuses. Birch suggests that research on invertebrate and insect sentience should continue, using behavioral and neurological criteria.

AI and the Challenge of Detecting Sentience

Birch also explores the question of sentience in artificial intelligence, noting that AI presents a unique challenge. Unlike animals, AI systems can be trained to mimic human emotional responses, making it difficult to determine whether they truly experience sensations or are merely simulating them.

“With AI, by contrast, two explanations compete: maybe the system has feelings, but maybe it is just responding as a human would respond, exploiting its vast reservoir of data on how humans express their feelings.” (p. 16)

This distinction raises questions about whether current methods for assessing sentience are sufficient when applied to artificial systems. Birch suggests that while animals provide direct behavioral and neurological evidence for sentience, AI systems require a different approach to evaluation.

Scientific Approach and Conclusions

Birch emphasizes a scientific approach to studying sentience, rejecting broad philosophical assumptions such as panpsychism (the belief that everything is conscious) or biopsychism (the belief that all living things are sentient). Instead, he argues that sentience should be assessed based on empirical evidence, including neurological structures and behavioral indicators.

His conclusions suggest that:

Sentience can exist without advanced intelligence.

Invertebrates and insects should be further studied as possible sentient beings.

AI presents unique challenges in assessing sentience due to its ability to imitate human behavior.

Conclusion

Jonathan Birch’s The Edge of Sentience provides a structured analysis of sentience and its relationship to intelligence. His work challenges assumptions about which animals may be sentient and highlights the need for continued research into both biological and artificial systems. By distinguishing sentience from intelligence and focusing on scientific evidence, Birch contributes to a growing discussion on the nature of conscious experience across different forms of life.