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https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/animal-consciousness-scientists-push-new-paradigm-rcna148213>
"Bees play by rolling wooden balls — apparently for fun. The cleaner wrasse
fish appears to recognize its own visage in an underwater mirror. Octopuses
seem to react to anesthetic drugs and will avoid settings where they likely
experienced past pain.
All three of these discoveries came in the last five years — indications that
the more scientists test animals, the more they find that many species may have
inner lives and be sentient. A surprising range of creatures have shown
evidence of conscious thought or experience, including insects, fish and some
crustaceans.
That has prompted a group of top researchers on animal cognition to publish a
new pronouncement that they hope will transform how scientists and society view
— and care — for animals.
Nearly 40 researchers signed “The New York Declaration on Animal
Consciousness,” which was first presented at a conference at New York
University on Friday morning. It marks a pivotal moment, as a flood of research
on animal cognition collides with debates over how various species ought to be
treated.
The declaration says there is “strong scientific support” that birds and
mammals have conscious experience, and a “realistic possibility” of
consciousness for all vertebrates — including reptiles, amphibians and fish.
That possibility extends to many creatures without backbones, it adds, such as
insects, decapod crustaceans (including crabs and lobsters) and cephalopod
mollusks, like squid, octopus and cuttlefish.
“When there is a realistic possibility of conscious experience in an animal, it
is irresponsible to ignore that possibility in decisions affecting that
animal,” the declaration says. “We should consider welfare risks and use the
evidence to inform our responses to these risks.”
Jonathan Birch, a professor of philosophy at the London School of Economics and
a principal investigator on the Foundations of Animal Sentience project, is
among the declaration’s signatories. Whereas many scientists in the past
assumed that questions about animal consciousness were unanswerable, he said,
the declaration shows his field is moving in a new direction.
“This has been a very exciting 10 years for the study of animal minds,” Birch
said. “People are daring to go there in a way they didn’t before and to
entertain the possibility that animals like bees and octopuses and cuttlefish
might have some form of conscious experience.”"
Via Kenny Chaffin.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
