> The line of consciousness, as we understand it, is understanding.

Is it? I'm no expert, by any stretch, but where does this theory come from?

I don't think anyone knows what consciousness is, or why we appear to have it, or even if we do have it. I don't even know that you're conscious. I could be the only conscious being in the universe and the rest of you are just zombies, with all the right external outputs to fool me, but no actual consciousness.