Are human beings the only conscious species in the world?

It has become increasingly difficult for us to maintain that humans are the only species that are conscious. Experiments with, or close observation of whales, mice, dogs, monkeys, for instance, show that they are capable of sophisticated and learned behaviours that would normally be associated with consciousness in a human.

Apparently, bees can recognize specific faces from photographs as wel as communicating he location and quality of pollen to their group. Other animals can recognize themselves, can lie and cheat. Even fish, as David Attenborough recently disseminated on film, can exhibit planned behaviour and a leaned, effective course of action.

Altogether, a scientist would probably answer No to your question, but some religions would not. Consciousness has long been a concept of keen interest to philosophers and religions

In the world today, there is no known way to measure pure consciousness. There is also no “universally accepted operational definition” of consciousness. Most often however, definitions of consciousness include the brain. So, it is possible that animals have consciousness. I’ve also read that some scientists believe plants, and even amoebas, have consciousness and neither plants nor amoebas have brains.

The fact that a plant will move toward light and amoebas will move toward prey potentially demonstrate a primitive type of knowledge or awareness, in other words consciousness. Since there is no way to prove or measure consciousness, I believe it is possible that other living organisms or species may experience consciousness so humans are not the only species that can do so.