Consciousness, Animal
Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science January 15, 2006 DOI: 10.1002/0470018860.s00300 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that similarities in behavior and neurology, and evolutionary continuity, suggest animals have conscious experiences, and that studying other forms of consciousness can reveal the evolutionary roots of human consciousness. |
Abstract
Abstract Observable similarities between humans and other animals with respect to behavior and neurology, as well as considerations related to evolutionary continuity between species, underlie most opinions that animals have conscious experiences. The attempt to understand other forms of consciousness – other species of mind – may help us to understand the evolutionary roots of our own.