Here is my two cent hypothesis. Consciousness arises whenever a system processes information in some way. In particular I would think it requires that the syste

Here is my two cent hypothesis. Consciousness arises whenever a system processes information in some way. In particular I would think it requires that the system has a simplified recursive model of itself. When I say "arises" I mean that is like a fundamental property of information. If true that would also mean that systems that we don't think are sentient in reality are, but we have no way to communicate with them. For instance a market system, that usually process information about itself might be sentient and we are like neurons in the system transferring information trough transactions and prices. Or forests might be.