Nearly 40 researchers have signed the New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness. This is a decidedly important step by the scientific world towards what many of us have always thought and hoped for. The statement was also presented at a conference at New York University. But what is it?
After seeing what bumblebees are capable of doing, it is appropriate to first identify what is meant by conscience. This term refers to an animal’s awareness of itself or the surrounding environment. Additionally, sentience is an aspect of consciousness that describes an animal’s ability to experience and feel things.
“Sensitivity refers to an animal’s ability to try subjective experiences, such as pleasure, pain, fear and other emotions. While these concepts may be related, sensitivity explicitly refers to an animal’s ability to sense the world“said members of the Wild Animal Initiative’s octopus sensitivity investigation team, a IFLScience. Let us now bring some concrete examples.
Octopuses can be considered a valid example for this theory: several studies clearly demonstrate that they are incredibly intelligent, capable of solving advanced problems and suggest that they may experience physical and emotional pain. All this could represent evidence that they have a conscience.
As if that wasn’t enough, crows, dogs, mice, and elephants have been known to behave in ways that might imply that they are sentient beings and not guided by “simple” instincts. The fact that other small living beings such as bees and flies are potentially endowed with consciousness is also being studied.
Although the statement admits that “much uncertainty remains“, it is also stated that “there is a strong scientific support for the attribution of conscious experience to other mammals and birds“.
“Second, the empirical evidence indicates at least a realistic possibility of conscious experience in all vertebrates (including reptiles, amphibians and fish) and in many invertebrates (including, at a minimum, cephalopod molluscs, decapod crustaceans and insects)“.
It is worth highlighting how other researchers, however, are still skepticalarguing that what we have discovered so far is not necessarily indicative of consciousness.
After seeing Blanquita’s unfortunate, one-of-a-kind life, the signatories hope that their statement will stimulate further research into animal consciousness, providing greater clarity on the topic. In fact, a rethink regarding the animal welfare in the legislative process.
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