Document type: perspective article published in Science
Authors: Kristin Andrews, Jonathan Birch, Jeff Sebo
Preview: Honeybees becoming "pessimistic" after stressful experiences; cuttlefish remembering the past and planning for the future; and cleaner wrasse fish seemingly recognizing themselves in a mirror: If scientific reports like these were accepted as evidence of consciousness, then the implications would be substantial. The neuroscience of consciousness would need to expand its focus beyond humans and other primates and include a much wider range of model species. Animal welfare policies likely would need to expand as well. The outstanding question is whether such reports serve as evidence of consciousness. If so, what conclusions can be drawn about animals that display some consciousness indicators but not others?
Assessing animal consciousness would be easier if there were a widely accepted theory of consciousness and a precise definition of consciousness tied to that theory. Unfortunately, theories of consciousness abound, with 22 theories identified in a recent study. Although some ideas enjoy more empirical support than others, most researchers agree that all current theories are insecure. In the absence of a secure theory or a precise definition, consciousness science instead starts with sensible examples that involve felt experience in humans. These include sensory experiences such as color perception, affective experiences such as bodily pleasure, and vivid imagery during dreams, memories, imagination, or planning. These examples provide an initial characterization of consciousness that allows researchers to investigate dimensions of conscious experience. (...)
