> But have the bees actually "learned a new skill", or are they employing skills they already (instinctively) have, and we did not observe? 

There we have it.  If we accept this argument for bees, then must we not extend that same scepticism to humans. 

We have created robots that convincingly simulate human behaviour.  Some are aguing passionately for consciousness in robot software present or imanent and others think (seriously) that we can be put on tape, disk, or chip and live forever.

So, I guess we just think we are conscious, some of us anyhow..

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