I can see why this issue is an important one for you as a supporter of Tononi's integrated information theory. We know from Varela and Thompson that even the most primitive single-celled organisms demonstrate autopoiesis, maintaining themselves in relation to a permeable membrane separating them from their environment (through which they obtain food from the environment and also protect themselves from the intrusion of other substances into their interiors). Varela saw protoconsciousness at this level of life. Somehow 'information' is operating at this level of life. Information is also exchanged in quantum interactions at the base (so far as we know) of the constitution of the universe/multiverse, etc. Where along the many lines of evolution of life on our planet does information become conceptual? It's an enormous question, and one Tononi will need, I think, to deal with in the development of his theory. Another question is: what is a concept? How many protoconcepts will we need to discover in varieties of evolving life before we come to the level of concepts at which we humans operate? How many other animals living on this planet now possess protoconcepts similar to those developed in the evolution of our species? How will we find out? One thing seems certain to me: animals are not unconscious; many are highly intelligent; the ones I've known clearly make choices and decisions on the basis of their phenomenal experiences in the world and on what the animal at some level understands the signification of those experiences to be. I recommend this book in cognitive ethology:
Clever ravens winged masters of deception | Earth Dr Reese Halter's Blog
"In the 1960s, professor Stanley Cobb discovered that birds had developed a forebrain, called the hyperstriatum (which mammals lack), as their chief organ of intelligence. The larger the hyperstriatum, the higher the birds score on intelligence tests.
Ravens are at the top among birds for overall brain size. Their brain-to-body ratio equals that of a dolphin and nearly matches humans. Their large brains are packed with brain cells. They are capable of acquiring complex vocal and non-vocal behaviors, a prerequisite for communication. They appear to make complex decisions and exhibit every sign of enjoying awareness. In many ways, they have similar cognitive capacities to some primates."
"Alpha males eat first, but reserve the right to allow subordinates to test potentially tainted meat, not dissimilar to the knights having court jesters test food prior to banquets. "
"Ravens are masters of deception and exhibit interesting behavior. They hang by their feet, slide in the snow, fly upside down, use rocks in their nests for defense, carry food in their feet as well as their bills, roll on the ground to escape predators and poke holes in the bottom of their nests for ventilation on hot days.
Ravens also like to play. I have seen them drop rocks in front of dogs, drop branches on people and drop from mid-air to catch a coyote’s tail."
"Ravens are fearless and play tag with wolves. In most cases, they win; occasionally, they perish. In keeping with their trickster image, they work marvelously in pairs. While one partner distracts an eagle in her nest, the other will pilfer her young or an egg."
