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

Schlanger blends philosophy with science throughout the text. How has the Western philosophical tradition impacted research into plant behavior and/or plant intelligence? How should scientists think about and combat the role of bias or human-centric perspective in research? Cite specific examples when developing your answer.

If intelligence is not uniquely human, what does this mean for how humans approach environmental conservation, ecology, and climate change? If plants and other organisms exhibit intelligence, how can humans reassess their treatment of them?

Schlanger suggests that the distinction between plant intelligence and other forms of intelligence may be driven by the notion of intention, which she explains is extremely difficult to measure. Is there intention behind plant behavior and decision-making? What evidence supports your argument, and why?

What do Schlanger’s language choices reveal about her perspective on plant intelligence? How does she use words like “aware” or “communicate” to support her rhetorical argument, and why does she make these choices?

The book features the work of highly respected scientists and those working in the margins of their fields. How does the integration of these modes of research impact the credibility of the work? How do they contribute to Schlanger’s ecological approach to understanding?

How might the biological creativity exhibited by plants be understood within a human context? How does humanity exhibit its own forms of biological creativity?

Schlanger weaves references to various texts throughout The Light Eaters, drawing on fields like philosophy, neuroscience, botany, and literature to support her argument about the complex, interconnected nature of life and consciousness. Choose three of these texts and analyze their significance within the context of Schlanger’s argument. Why did she select these texts in particular? How do they advance her central themes?

What is consciousness? Are plants conscious? How do philosophy and science merge and diverge in this field, and how does Schlanger’s book fit in to that debate?