would react to a wound but not pass the mirror test
I mean, reacting to a wound doesn’t demonstrate that they’re actually experiencing pain. If experiencing pain actually requires self-awareness, then an animal could be perfectly capable of avoiding damaging stimuli without actually feeling pain from said stimuli. I’m not saying that’s actually how it works, I’m just saying that reacting to wounds doesn’t demonstrate what you want it to demonstrate.
I mean, reacting to a wound doesn’t demonstrate that they’re actually experiencing pain. If experiencing pain actually requires self-awareness, then an animal could be perfectly capable of avoiding damaging stimuli without actually feeling pain from said stimuli. I’m not saying that’s actually how it works, I’m just saying that reacting to wounds doesn’t demonstrate what you want it to demonstrate.
I agree that’s possible, it’s just also possible the reverse is true.