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MammothInfestation t1_j14tlxk wrote

Depends on your definition of sentient.

the definition found on google was - able to perceive or feel things.

So by that definition yes, lots of microorganism already meet that criteria.

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Poopy_Paws t1_j14vf3p wrote

I think OP means sapient. Sentient and sapient are always confused

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MammothInfestation t1_j14w7c4 wrote

I'm not sure sapient is a better choice to be fair.

- wise, or attempting to appear wise.

- relating to the human species

I think he's asking about consciousness but unfortunately given we don't really understand it or have a rigid definition, the only answer to his question we can give reasonably give is we don't know.

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Poopy_Paws t1_j14wudl wrote

The title is asking about intelligence. The actual comment is asking about sentience. Sapience is pretty much what is being asked.

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MammothInfestation t1_j14ysjl wrote

So perhaps if we, rephrased it to could a microorganism develop intelligence comparable to a human.

In which case no not with conventional neurons as we understand them.

Perhaps you could engineer something that did processing on the atomic level that could meet the size and processing requirements.

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narwhal_breeder t1_j14vtzi wrote

by that argument its very unlikely they meet that criteria. Feeling != automatic response to stimuli, with that you could argue a light switch is sentient.

Sentience very likely is an emergent property of complex interactions that are unlikely to arise from the simplicity of single cellular life.

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MammothInfestation t1_j14zet7 wrote

What's the definition of feeling your using?

And ultimately sentience is a really vague poorly defined term which makes any answer difficult.

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