Prominent scientists sign declaration that animals have conscious awareness, just like us.

[Deleted_171835]

An international group of prominent scientists has signed The Cambridge Declaration of Consciousness in which they are proclaiming their support for the idea that animals are conscious and aware to the degree that humans are — a list of animals that includes all mammals, birds, and even the octopus.

But will this make us stop treating these animals in totally inhumane ways?

While it might not sound like much for scientists to declare that many nonhuman animals possess conscious states, it’s the open acknowledgement that’s the big news here. The body of scientific evidence is increasingly showing that most animals are conscious in the same way that we are, and it’s no longer something we can ignore.

What’s also very interesting about the declaration is the group’s acknowledgement that consciousness can emerge in those animals that are very much unlike humans, including those that evolved along different evolutionary tracks, namely birds and some cephalopods.

“The absence of a neocortex does not appear to preclude an organism from experiencing affective states,” they write, “Convergent evidence indicates that non-human animals have the neuroanatomical, neurochemical, and neurophysiological substrates of conscious states along with the capacity to exhibit intentional behaviors.”

Consequently, say the signatories, the scientific evidence is increasingly indicating that humans are not unique in possessing the neurological substrates that generate consciousness.

The group consists of cognitive scientists, neuropharmacologists, neurophysiologists, neuroanatomists, and computational neuroscientists — all of whom were attending the Francis Crick Memorial Conference on Consciousness in Human and Non-Human Animals. The declaration was signed in the presence of Stephen Hawking, and included such signatories as Christof Koch, David Edelman, Edward Boyden, Philip Low, Irene Pepperberg, and many more.

http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/dvorsky201208251

If anything, this certainly raises up some interesting ethical questions.

 

[evandixon]

You don't say? How very observant of them.

If ethical questions like that weren't raised before, they probably won't be now.

 

[The Milkman]

How does this bring up ethical questions? (at least aside from those we already had)

You would think one of the perks of being top of the food chain would be being able to treat everything like crap. It certainly has not stopped us in the past.

 

[chavosaur]

IN BEFORE DOLPHINS ;O;
http://gbatemp.net/threads/something-really-horrible.251111/

 

[Rydian]

along with the capacity to exhibit intentional behaviors.

 

[Clydefrosch]

well, as long as they don't have enough awareness to organize against humans... I mean, you'd expect that some farm animals might have drawn the connection between mommy and daddy being brought away by a human and never returning equaling their death.

I find it hard to use cats as an example. 95% of their supposedly intentional behavior results in them running away scared as if they had no idea what would happen when they throw down the glass vase for the 9th time.

 

[jacksprat1990]

No way. This is information I didn't think was possible. Good thing it took a bunch of "scientists" to make me realise the truth.

 

[Walker D]

The Science universe tends to let down old habits and move on as fast as rocks do... ...so yeah, even if it's not that shocking of a position, this is a relevant situation still.. ...it means that the conservative scientists and alike will now be less conservative then before.

 

[EzekielRage]

What scientist? I checked the source and a few links. I found ZERO names.

Personally I truly believe that many animals have a conciousness. But if this "study" has any credibility, where are the "prominent" names?

 

[Deleted_171835]

What scientist? I checked the source and a few links. I found ZERO names.


Personally I truly believe that many animals have a conciousness. But if this "study" has any credibility, where are the "prominent" names?

"The group consists of cognitive scientists, neuropharmacologists, neurophysiologists, neuroanatomists, and computational neuroscientists — all of whom were attending the Francis Crick Memorial Conference on Consciousness in Human and Non-Human Animals. The declaration was signed in the presence of Stephen Hawking, and included such signatories as Christof Koch, David Edelman, Edward Boyden, Philip Low, Irene Pepperberg, and many more."

It was right in the OP.

 

[EzekielRage]

Ah yes. Sorry. I misread that the thing was signed in the presence of those men. My mistake.
But truth be told, except for Hawking I know NONE of those people...

 

[Cyan]

I've never even imagined that animals wouldn't be aware or wouldn't have a consciousness. It was already logic to me.
If scientific told that Plants had consciousness, now it would be something! They are alive too.

 

[MegaAce™]

i find it hard to use cats as an example. 95% of their supposedly intentional behavior results in them running away scared as if they had no idea what would happen when they throw down the glass vase for the 9th time

Maybe they're just faking having no idea what throwing down the vase causes. Maybe they'Re doing it on purpose. We wouldn't know.

 

[Depravo]

Where will it all end? Voting rights? Inter-species marriage?

 

[grossaffe]

Ah yes. Sorry. I misread that the thing was signed in the presence of those men. My mistake.
But truth be told, except for Hawking I know NONE of those people...

Scientists aren't exactly rock stars. The Stephen Hawkings and Neil Degrasse Tysons of the science world are anomalous.

 

[porkiewpyne]

If scientific told that Plants had consciousness, now it would be something! They are alive too.

Maybe we should use that contraption in Roald Dahl's "The Sound Machine".

Anyway, I wonder what PETA is gonna make of this.....

 

[Walker D]

If scientific told that Plants had consciousness, now it would be something! They are alive too.

There are studies that say so actually ...where plants would react to human emotions (like anger and love) and to some other physical stimulation (cold/hot, violent/delicate contacts) ...expressing some kinds of intentional behaviors.

Never read too deeply about this stuff to know how conclusive this studies are though..

 

[FAST6191]

So my meat is certified thinking now?

Wonder if I could get it to think itself tastier.

 

[evandixon]

No. Meat is an implied expression for dead meat. Dead = no thought.

 

[Deleted member 194275]

Where will it all end? Voting rights? Inter-species marriage?

Even without voting rights, without citizenship, most of people treat their pet better than treat the homeless people for example. I know people that spend around R$ 1,000 with dog food every month, but dont give a shit for charity. (R$ 1,000 = $ 500)