Sentience review: Inside a controversial new idea about consciousness

We’re nonetheless struggling to account for consciousness. A brand new speculation by psychologist Nicholas Humphrey challenges the premise of the dialogue and argues sentience is not what we expect

By Philip Ball

Sentience: The invention of consciousness

Nicholas Humphrey (Oxford College Press)

THERE is a shelf in my mind – and in my research too – the place I retailer theories of consciousness, and that is the place psychologist Nicholas Humphrey’s new ebook, Sentience, will reside. Every of those theories and hypotheses can appear compelling within the second, particularly given the boldness with which they are usually offered. They’re often in contrast to one another; usually, they’re diametrically opposed.

For instance, in Sentience …