Self-consciousness and animal suffering.
Animals with relatively highly developed brains are likely to experience some degree of self-awareness and the ability to think. As well as being interesting in its own right, self-consciousness matters from an ethical point of view, since it can give rise to forms of suffering above and beyond the immediate physical sensations of pain or distress. This article surveys the evidence for animal self-consciousness and its implications for animal welfare.
Morton
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DB
Division of Primary Care, Public and Occupational Health, School of Medicine, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. d.b.morton@bham.ac.uk
D000828:Animal Population Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D000827:Animal Welfare / Q000592:standards*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003243:Consciousness; D004285:Dogs; D004532:Ego; D006736:Horses / Q000523:psychology; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000523:psychology; D010311:Parrots; D011148:Pongo pygmaeus / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept