The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth

Anatomical decentralization refers to the idea that bodily processes may not be entirely controlled by a singular command center like the brain. This suggestion is often associated with plant intelligence and the argument that plants’ entire bodies comprise a network of cognition. Because plants do not have central nervous systems, they lack an information processing hub. However, Schlanger asserts that plants engage in complex processes often exhibited by animal brains, such as memory and decision-making. This suggests plants may utilize their entire bodies for these processes.

Anthropocentrism centralizes the human experience over that of other species. Some scientists argue that calling plants “intelligent” or “conscious” is a form of anthropocentrism, indicating a compulsion to impose human qualities on plants. Critics argue that anthropocentrism leads to environmental degradation. By prioritizing human experience, animal welfare and resources can be exploited for human advantage.

Cyanobacteria is a group of photosynthetic bacteria that play an important role in the earth’s ecosystem and evolutionary history. These bacteria, sometimes referred to as “blue-green algae,” are responsible for converting sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into oxygen and sugar through photosynthesis.