I think that animals are certainly aware of their own existence; that is why they seek to keep themselves alive, and stay away from danger.
My understanding is that if you stick an animal in front of a mirror and it knows its looking at itself, it is self aware. If not... it is not self aware.
A human is human because of speech.
To be sentient, you require three time-dimensions. You store experience, you remember the past. You know where you are, who you are, etc, so you are aware of the present. You can plan far ahead, therefore you recognize future.
If you were an animal, you would be fine with the first two. Basically, if an animal can learn from its experience, and later act differently, therefore becoming more efficient or safe, I consider it sentient.
This applies to mammals and most of the birds if not all.
However a reptile acts solely on instincts, they don't really learn. (I stil luv them lolz).
Hmm. I must agree with you nabbig2.
I based my idea on that reptiles can't "resist" something. There are things that automatically triggers an action or chain of actions, like an alligator snapping turtle will crush its jaws together when he feels something in its mouth.
Same thing with crocodiles. And snakes.
But now it came to my mind, that lions and other big cats kill their zoomaster from time to time.
They are easily seduced by the smell of blood.
And even among humans there are things like that. Although I can't mention any good examples right now o.o
However, I still consider reptiles as far more instinct dependent than any other.
They are so beautiful !
They have simpler and smaller brain. That is all.
Oh, and one important thing.
When you teach a mammal a trick for example, you can do that by offering a treat, or threating it with pain or something similar.
I've yet to seen any "trick" done by a reptile that is indeed taught, and not baited. You can give them anything or threaten them with any pain, I don't think they will do what you want.
All reptile related things involve constant baits, as far as I see.
Animals are not stupid. They are perfect, in their own way. Unlike people. >_>
Can you teach your what reptile to do what tricks over what time if you can only induce him or her with treats while learning, and not performing?
Computers can communicate, but that doesn't make them sentient (or maybe it does). This debate is useless if people are just going to work from their guts.
computers are not sentient due to not being alive, or, atleast not in thier current state, not having the capacity to generate feeling, emotion, or free thought.
im not going off gut, it is human kinds greatist achievement, the fact that we can communicate.
and for the most part, computers are terminols for humans to comunicate with each others, theres no comunication going on that a human did not start or start a pathway for it to start.
for example, two computers could be relaying information on bank account billing etc etc, this could be automated by a program, but some man made the program, and some people are making the billing request.
but humans, we talk, we put thoughts together with words, these words are the basist, could you describe something without communicating? no you can't. without words or text, or hand gestures or other sounds or any form of communication you could not.