Plant IQ?!

I just wanted to find out: Does anyone here besides me feel that plants &/or other organisms BESIDES ANIMALS SUCH AS HUMANS have intelligence, &/or feelings/emotions?!

Smarty Plants: Inside the World's Only Plant-Intelligence Lab, By Nicole Martinelli!!

The idea that other life-forms are somehow "inferior" to us humans is NOTHING MORE THAN RACISM!!

We need to stop thinking about other life-forms as somehow "beneath" us, & come to the realization that we are NOT THE ONLY INTELLIGENT BEINGS ON THIS PLANET!!

& we also need to stop POISONING THE PLANET!!

I also believe that all living things are capable of being spiritual, religious, &/or psychic!!

On some related notes:

The Sight, a novel about religion among wolves,

...&...

The Gaia hypothesis, a theory that is often viewed as saying that the Earth is a living organism!!

What do you guys think: yes, no, or maybe so?!

& please feel free to discuss whether protists, fungi, &/or protists have inteligence as well!!

Huh? What?

Plants grow without intelligence. The world is not at all alive. A novel about wolf religion does not have any backing.

I'm sure you know my answer already, but no, plants do not have intelligence.

All that is described in that first article are evolutionary adaptations and similar, nothing requiring any sort of conscious thought or active problem solving.

The idea that other life-forms are somehow "inferior" to us humans is NOTHING MORE THAN RACISM!!

First of all, that is not racism, since racism can only occur when someone discriminates someone of a different race, whereas plants cannot be of a different race, as they are not our species.

Plants are obviously living beings, but they do not have "intelligence" or "feelings" in the way animals do. There is no way to really measure "intelligence" in plants like we would with animals. Plants are a much more passive form of life than animals, and it's really not possible to say they have "intelligence", at least not in the form of IQ as we perceive it.

Furthermore, it would be better if you could back up your claims with actual proven scientific fact, instead of speculation.

First off, a novel isn't a ligitimate source of data.
Second, smart and intelligent mean diffrent things.


It may be possible that plants have some sort of awareness, its definantly not beyond reactimg to tempurature change, and nowhere near on the level that humans do.

Originally Posted by 8bit

But seriously, guys, how do you know plants aren't intelligent? .

Because, unlike humans and other animals which have brains and nervous systems, they don't have the biological make-up to allow for thought to take place.

Probably. I don't know this for a fact, but I would put money on it.

Plants and animals are split up into different kingdoms for a reason. Animals exhibit forms of thought, whereas plants do not. Their response to stimuli is slow, save for a few.

This thread should be locked.

Plants respond to stimuli because thats in their genetic makeup.

Also the Gaia theory is complete bull****.

No, this thread should not be locked. It is about a seriously discussed (and rather interesting) Topic. I wonder, not if current plants can think, but if it's POSSIBLE, for a plant to ever evolve to have at least minimal thought. Don't flame me but would the biology SIMILAR to something like Pikmin, be possble in some era?

Plants can sense stimuli such as light, gravity, and touch and respond in sometimes brilliant ways that promote survival and reproduction, but it is not a conscious process and thus could not be called intelligence. It's nothing more than stimulus/response.

Are animals intelligent? Yes, I do believe animals are. Plants? No, they have no brain.
Do they have emotions? Yes, fear is a instinctive response, so the animal knows to run away. Anger maybe as well, but I doubt animals get depressed or have 'off' days. They survive on instinct, and many emotions aren't necessary for survival, and some even impede it.
Do plants have emotions? No brain = no emotions. They live thanks to the DNA in their cells, there's no central system like a brain that controls it all.
Overall, animals have high levels of intelligence, but only as it relates to their survival. You can't teach a dog to read a book. I also think they have primal emotions that help them survive.
Plants on the other hand, no intelligence, no emotions. They respond to stimuli as Black Mamba stated.

Also, your note on how every organism can be religious or spiritual is absurd. Why the hell would wolves have a religion? How does that help them in any way? They form tight nit communities/groups to help them survive, but from a survival and evolution stand point, what does spirituality and religion do for animals? I won't even talk about plants and religion.

I do agree with you on the fact that a lot of humans do believe we are above animals and other life on earth, but we are far from the pinnacle of evolution, far from perfect, and at the end of it, no matter how much we can reason, and think logically, we are just another species on this planet, and we too struggle daily to survive, although our struggles are different from other species.

It would be nice if your next posts are in proper sentence and paragraph structure. Makes it easier to read. And what do you mean by 'POISONING THE PLANET'?

I remember an article in 9th grade that said scientists were testing some fruit, and when they put it in different environments, it released different chemicals out of danger. It was actually experiencing fear somehow.

It was very confusing and startleing to see that. Plants don't show much intelligence and only live to survive as long as they can (growing the direction the sun shines) but I do't want to completely rule out the possibility that they're completely stupid.

Originally Posted by Eggys

I remember an article in 9th grade that said scientists were testing some fruit, and when they put it in different environments, it released different chemicals out of danger. It was actually experiencing fear somehow.

Were the chemicals released to defend the plant? Self-preservation is a trait that all organisms naturally have. It does not, however, require sentience.

Uh...plants don't even have brain cells, so intelligence is impossible in the first place.

Were the chemicals released to defend the plant? Self-preservation is a trait that all organisms naturally have. It does not, however, require sentience.

I agree, though I belive it's more of an reaction to stimuli, rather than an defensive reation (that implys emotion). That's why some flowers open in the sunlight and close and night, as well as other such things. Even dead people can sit up if you hit them in the right place (I learned this from a friend that works in a mortuary, by the way, it's actually kind of creepy) because it is simply a mechanical reaction, not an actual emotional response.

Originally Posted by Aura Pulse

No, this thread should not be locked. It is about a seriously discussed (and rather interesting) Topic. I wonder, not if current plants can think, but if it's POSSIBLE, for a plant to ever evolve to have at least minimal thought. Don't flame me but would the biology SIMILAR to something like Pikmin, be possble in some era?

Thanks for that, Aura Pulse!!

But do you think it's POSSIBLE that current plants can think, &/or have souls, because if my sources are correct, all living things possess traces of...

Dimethyltryptamine, (DMT),

& since that is what causes dreams, (again, if my sources are correct), then that, in all probability, means that they DO POSSESS THINKING/SPIRITUAL/PSYCHIC CAPABILITIES!!

Thanks for the support!!

Originally Posted by Tuf Pic

But do you think it's POSSIBLE that current plants can think, &/or have souls, because if my sources are correct, all living things possess traces of...

Dimethyltryptamine, (DMT),

& since that is what causes dreams, (again, if my sources are correct), then that, in all probability, means that they DO POSSESS THINKING/SPIRITUAL/PSYCHIC CAPABILITIES!!

Where are the brain cells needed to utilize DMT in such a way?

Having a dream-abilifying chemical does not mean that something can think (much less having 'spiritual' or "psychic" capabilities). Water contributes to dreams but I hardly see lakes outsmarting people.

Originally Posted by Captain Crusader

Where are the brain cells needed to utilize DMT in such a way?

I'm guessing that they have an organ that performs a similar, near-identical, or maybe even EXACTLY IDENTICAL FUNCTION!!

I mean, just because it's not a brain AS WE KNOW IT, doesn't mean it can't function in the same way!!

Having a dream-abilifying chemical does not mean that something can think (much less having 'spiritual' or "psychic" capabilities). Water contributes to dreams but I hardly see lakes outsmarting people.

Maybe not the lake, but the spiritual being connected with it can think!!

Click Here!!

& what of ...

Hurricane Katrina?!

I'd say that the elementals got the better of humanity there!!

Originally Posted by Tuf Pic

I'm guessing that they have an organ that performs a similar, near-identical, or maybe even EXACTLY IDENTICAL FUNCTION!!

I mean, just because it's not a brain AS WE KNOW IT, doesn't mean it can't function in the same way!!

But it wouldn't function then. Nothing happens. So much more is needed for a plant to think than trace amounts of a quirky brain chemical.

If one was to mix up (literally) someone's brain, there would be no thought...but there would be everything needed, unlike here.

Maybe not the lake, but the spiritual being connected with it can think!!

You lost me there.

Originally Posted by Tuf Pic

what of ...

Hurricane Katrina?!

I'd say that the elementals got the better of humanity there!!

Yup, nothing quite so funny as a disaster that kills hundreds of people...

Anyway, the only thing I can think of that even comes close to suggesting that plants have some kind of sensory awareness is the fact that they seem to like classical music.

Originally Posted by Captain Crusader

Having a dream-abilifying chemical does not mean that something can think (much less having 'spiritual' or "psychic" capabilities). Water contributes to dreams but I hardly see lakes outsmarting people.

I disagree, my dear uncle saw his reflection in a lake and drowned trying to save himself, truly tragic.

I don't think plants are intelligent, or truly have a capacity to think... But one must wonder how you may define feeling... a plant reacts to stimuli but that doesnt make it smart or feeling.

To say a plant has an 'IQ' is silly if you ask me, though I do ponder if they can feel... Hell, theres ever arguements on if Lobsters feel pain, some agree some dont, I wouldn't be surprised if the same applies to some plants.

Maybe not the lake, but the spiritual being connected with it can think!!

Congradulations, you are now Tom Cruise classified crazy... would you be interested in taking a free personality test!