Expert: Walter Hintz - 6/5/2007

Question
Hi Professor Hintz,
                  I wanted to know...some scientists, such as Dr. Backster and his "lie-detector", have claimed that plants had some sort of consciousness because they can react to damaging stimuli by releasing a substance called jasmonate, which can be blocked by aspirin:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/08/980806090010.htm

Being quite skeptic on that subject, I am willing to have your advice on the question...do you think that this phenomenon can be interpreted as an evidence of suffering even if such organism do not have a brain? Thank you.

Regards.

Answer
Hi Jack;
The evidence of this compound has been  established. In some plants an injury causes a release of jasmonate which in turn causes release of a toxic compounds.  This discourages an herbivore from eating the plant.  I have also seen statements that acetylsalicylic acid inhibits the action. This does not mean that it has anything to do with pain.  Pain requires a central nervous system.
 Concluding that the plant has a consciousness and "feels pain" is teleological.  There is no evidence of nervous tissue in plants or any kind of a brain. I find it difficult to find the plants in my salad bowl suffering.
In summary although it is true that a plant has a responsiveness to injury the idea of a "consciousness" cannot be tested and is therefore not factual.