Truly minimal criteria for animal sentience
Animal Sentience August 3, 2026 DOI: 10.51291/2377-7478.1711 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Evolution Cognitive neuroscience Zoology Cognition and perception Life sciences |
| Key points | Argues that sentience criteria should be grounded in basic functional principles, and proposes minimal criteria for determining sentience presence, addressing the gap in the target article's justification for pain focus. |
Abstract
The criteria for determining animal sentience proposed in the target article are sensible but they lack an explicit functional justification for the focus on pain. This commentary provides an abbreviated account of the most basic functional principles that underpin animal sentience and articulates some minimal criteria for determining its presence.