Consciousness, awareness, and sentience are words brandished in current cultural environments that become confusing because the definitions (as you state) are circular. Pop culture seems steeped in illusions regarding consciousness and what it means to be "awake" or "woke".

Despite more sensible neurologists, finally objecting to the comparison of the brain to computers, the mythology of computer-brain analogies persist. This may be the crux of a free-floating definition of consciousness, sentience and awareness in a world that insists on reductionistic simplicity (r-s). R-s is everywhere, and I rail against it.

Well, perhaps I'm rambling due to poor sleep. Enough for now. Thanks for your piece and it's thought-provoking nature.