A
philosophical zombie or
p-zombie in the
philosophy of mind and
perception is a hypothetical being that is indistinguishable from a normal human being except in that it lacks
conscious experience,
qualia, or
sentience. For example, a philosophical zombie could be poked with a sharp object, and not feel any pain sensation, but yet, behave exactly as if it does feel pain (it may say "ouch" and recoil from the stimulus, or say that it is in intense pain).