Animal Minds

Published: March 7, 2024

Animal minds are complex and diverse, making them difficult to study. This Element focuses on a question that has received much attention in the field of comparative cognition: 'Do animals reason about unobservable variables like force mental states?' The shows how researchers design studies gather evidence address this question. Despite many virtues current methods, hypotheses cognition often underdetermined by empirical evidence. Given this, philosophers scientists have recently called for additional behavioral constraints theorizing field. endorses proposal (known as 'signature testing'), while also arguing animal would benefit from drawing more heavily neuroscience biology.

Language: Английский

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Model Organisms

Published: Nov. 24, 2020

This Element presents a philosophical exploration of the concept 'model organism' in contemporary biology. Thinking about model organisms enables us to examine how living have been brought into laboratory and used gain better understanding biology, explore research practices, commitments, norms underlying this understanding. We contend that are key components distinctive way doing research. focus on what makes an important type model, use these models has shaped biological knowledge, including represent, they as tools for intervention, representational commitments linked their affect practices associated with them.

Language: Английский

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The Metaphysics of Biology

Published: May 6, 2021

This Element is an introduction to the metaphysics of biology, a very general account nature living world. The first part addresses more traditionally philosophical questions - whether biological systems are reducible properties their physical parts, causation and laws nature, substantialist processualist accounts life, kinds. second half will offer understanding important entities, drawing on earlier discussions. division should not be taken too seriously, however: topics in both parts deeply interconnected. Although this does claim scientific work, it aim firmly grounded our best knowledge; exercise naturalistic metaphysics. Its most distinctive feature that argues throughout for view as processes rather than things or, technical sense, substances.

Language: Английский

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Cephalopod Behavior: From Neural Plasticity to Consciousness

Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 15

Published: April 12, 2022

It is only in recent decades that subjective experience - or consciousness has become a legitimate object of scientific inquiry. As such, it represents perhaps the greatest challenge facing neuroscience today. Subsumed within this study non-human animals: particularly difficult endeavor becomes even more so, as one crosses great evolutionary divide between vertebrate and invertebrate phyla. Here, we explore possibility group invertebrates: cephalopod molluscs. We believe such review timely, considering cephalopods' impressive learning memory abilities, rich behavioral repertoire, relative complexity their nervous systems sensory capabilities. Indeed, some cephalopods, these abilities are so sophisticated they comparable to those higher vertebrates. Following criteria framework outlined for identification hallmarks non-mammalian species, here propose cephalopods octopus provide unique test case among invertebrates examining properties conditions that, at very least, afford basal faculty consciousness. These include, others: (i) discriminatory anticipatory behaviors indicating strong link perception recall; (ii) presence neural substrates representing functional analogs thalamus cortex; (iii) neurophysiological dynamics resembling signatures conscious states mammals. highlight current lack evidence well potentially informative areas warrant further investigation support view expressed here. Finally, identify future research directions tantalizing animals.

Language: Английский

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What Is It Like to Be a Bass? Red Herrings, Fish Pain and the Study of Animal Sentience

Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: April 27, 2022

Debates around fishes' ability to feel pain concern sentience : do reactions tissue damage indicate evaluative consciousness (conscious affect), or mere nociception? Thanks Braithwaite's research leadership, and concerns that current practices could compromise welfare in countless fish, this issue's importance is beyond dispute. However, nociceptors are merely necessary, not sufficient, for true pain, many measures held have the same problem. The question of whether fish – indeed anything at all therefore stimulates sometimes polarized debate. Here, we try bridge divide. After reviewing key concepts, identify “red herring” should be used infer because also present non-sentient organisms, notably those lacking nervous systems, like plants protozoa (P); spines disconnected from brains (S); decerebrate mammals birds (D); humans unaware states (U). These “S.P.U.D. subjects” can show approach/withdrawal; react with apparent emotion; change their reactivity food deprivation analgesia; discriminate between stimuli; display Pavlovian learning, including some forms trace conditioning; even learn simple instrumental responses. Consequently, none these responses good indicators sentience. Potentially more valid aspects working memory, operant conditioning, self-report state, higher order cognition. We suggest new experiments on test hypotheses, as well modifications tests “mental time travel” self-awareness (e.g., mirror self-recognition) allow now probe (since currently they reflect perceptual rather than evaluative, affective consciousness). Because “bullet-proof” neurological behavioral thus still lacking, agnosticism about remains widespread. To end, address how balance such doubts protection, discussing raised by skeptics Overall, celebrate rigorous evidential standards required unconvinced sentient; laud compassion ethical rigor shown advocating protections; seek precautionary principles support protecting physical harm.

Language: Английский

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The Edge of Sentience

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: July 19, 2024

Abstract Can octopuses feel pain and pleasure? What about crabs, shrimps, insects, or spiders? How do we tell whether a person unresponsive after severe brain injury might be suffering? When does fetus in the womb start to have conscious experiences? Could there even rudimentary feelings miniature models of human brain, grown from stem cells? And what AI? These are questions edge sentience, they subject enormous, disorienting uncertainty. The stakes immense, neglecting risks can terrible costs. We need err on side caution, yet it’s often far clear ‘erring caution’ should mean practice. going too far? not doing enough? Edge Sentience presents comprehensive precautionary framework designed help us reach ethically sound, evidence-based decisions despite our

Language: Английский

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“All animals are conscious”: Shifting the null hypothesis in consciousness science

Mind & Language, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(3), P. 415 - 433

Published: Jan. 4, 2024

The marker approach is taken as best practice for answering the distribution question : Which animals are conscious? However, methodology can be used to increase confidence in many presume unconscious, including C. elegans , leading a trilemma: accept worms conscious; reject specific markers; or question. I defend third option and argue that requires secure theory of consciousness. Accepting hypothesis all conscious will promote research theory, which needed create reliable consciousness tests AIs. Rather than asking question, we should shift dimensions How

Language: Английский

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Measuring Consciousness

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 173 - 196

Published: Jan. 26, 2025

Abstract This chapter addresses the challenge of measuring consciousness. Consciousness does not seem to fit into standard scientific picture world. As such, it has been largely ignored across and scientifically minded fields. begun change in recent years. Using consciousness cephalopods as its example, this “distribution question,” question which animals are conscious first place. We need measures that can identify animals. However, candidate theories all still extremely uncertain contentious. The suggests a way thinking about their relation theory help further development these even we develop attempt learn conscious.

Language: Английский

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How to Study Animal Minds

Published: June 16, 2020

Comparative psychology, the multidisciplinary study of animal behavior and confronts challenge how to animals we find cute easy anthropomorphize, odd objectify, without letting these biases negatively impact science. In this Element, Kristin Andrews identifies critically examines principles comparative psychology shows they can introduce other by objectifying subjects encouraging scientists remain detached. outlines scientific benefits treating as sentient research participants who come from their own social contexts with whom will be in relationship. With discussions science's quest for objectivity, worries about romantic killjoy theories, debates chimpanzee cognition between primatologists work field those lab, address different through greater integration subdisciplines psychology.

Language: Английский

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Inheritance Systems and the Extended Synthesis

Published: May 11, 2020

Current knowledge of the genetic, epigenetic, behavioural and symbolic systems inheritance requires a revision extension mid-twentieth-century, gene-based, 'Modern Synthesis' version Darwinian evolutionary theory. We present case for this by first outlining history that led to neo-Darwinian view evolution. In second section we describe compare different types inheritance, in third discuss implications broad heredity various aspects end with an examination philosophical conceptual ramifications thinking incorporates multiple systems.

Language: Английский

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