You also communicate with others (not-you). You know that there are others because you can gain knowledge from them, which you didn't have before. And in that knowledge lies awareness of your self and consciousness.

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vkou 2 hours ago | parent [-]

Plants also communicate with others and gain knowledge from them.

Is an elm also conscious?

	▲	skeledrew 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Can't really make a determination on that as we can't communicate with an elm and have a "heart to heart" talk with it.