Précis of A Philosophy for the Science of Animal Consciousness
Philosophia January 16, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s11406-024-00808-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that consciousness science has neglected the evolutionary questions of when and why consciousness arose, and proposes a Darwinian philosophy that puts animal experience at the center of consciousness research, enabling empirical investigation of subjective experience in species such as bats, crows, bees, and octopuses. |
Abstract
A Philosophy for the Science of Animal Consciousness aims to advance Donald Griffin’s vision of the “final, crowning chapter of the Darwinian revolution” by firmly integrating animals within the science of consciousness. Although this field has largely neglected the questions of when and why consciousness evolved, this book champions a Darwinian philosophy where the experiences of other animals are put centre-stage in investigations of consciousness. This synopsis offers a summary of the book’s core arguments for the advancement of a truly biological science of consciousness. This approach allows for an empirically rigorous investigation into what it is like to be a bat, a crow, a bee, or an octopus.