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Pollan's New Book Challenges Consciousness and AI Impact

2/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

Michael Pollan's upcoming book, A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness, argues that human consciousness is distinct from sentience, and plants may be sentient but lack true consciousness.
He critiques reductionist neuroscience and emphasizes subjective experience.
Pollan draws on philosophy and literature to challenge mechanistic views of mind.
He warns that technology could distance people from their lives and cautions that AI may reshape our understanding of consciousness and humanity.

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Story summary

Michael Pollan's upcoming book, A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness, argues that human consciousness is distinct from sentience, and plants may be sentient but lack true consciousness.
He critiques reductionist neuroscience and emphasizes subjective experience.
Pollan draws on philosophy and literature to challenge mechanistic views of mind.
He warns that technology could distance people from their lives and cautions that AI may reshape our understanding of consciousness and humanity.