#animal minds

[typhlonectes]

Insects and Other Animals Have Consciousness, Experts Declare

A group of prominent biologists and philosophers announced a new consensus: There’s “a realistic possibility” that insects, octopuses, crustaceans, fish and other overlooked animals experience consciousness.

In 2022, researchers at the Bee Sensory and Behavioral Ecology Lab at Queen Mary University of London observed bumblebees doing something remarkable: The diminutive, fuzzy creatures were engaging in activity that could only be described as play. Given small wooden balls, the bees pushed them around and rotated them. The behavior had no obvious connection to mating or survival, nor was it rewarded by the scientists. It was, apparently, just for fun. The study on playful bees is part of a body of research that a group of prominent scholars of animal minds cited today, buttressing a new declaration that extends scientific support for consciousness to a wider suite of animals than has been formally acknowledged before. For decades, there’s been a broad agreement among scientists that animals similar to us — the great apes, for example —  have conscious experience, even if their consciousness differs from our own. In recent years, however, researchers have begun to acknowledge that consciousness may also be widespread among animals that are very different from us, including invertebrates with completely different and far simpler nervous systems...

Read more: https://www.quantamagazine.org/insects-and-other-animals-have-consciousness-experts-declare-20240419

[canisalbus]

✦ Fashionably late ✦

[beebfreeb]

[dr-rato]

THE FEELS Inspired by this scene in the Journal, which has not left my mind since i first read it:

Specifically, this part!

[ayyy-pee]

waking up freezing and shivering, teeth chattering every night because your husband is a blanket hog. you know it's not on purpose. he just can't help it. doesn't even know he does it most times. you'd think after years together you'd be used to it, but waking up curled into the fetal position as you try to retain even a smidge of warmth is something you don't think you'll ever adjust to.

so you reach behind you, feeling your spouses large form wrapped snug as a bug in your shared blanket and you grip onto the fabric. you pull as hard as you can but you don't manage to move him even an inch. you try once more...same result.

"ken..." you whisper, wrapping your arms around yourself. no response. "kento..."

he doesn't budge. you're tempted to just get up and go grab another blanket, but your husband, despite his seriousness, can get quite pouty when you do that. so you tap him hard instead sure to jab him in the spot you know is his most sensitive. this seems to do the trick as he grunts in response.

"I'm cold," you tell nanami and he sits up quickly, realizing what he's done. his pajama top hangs off one shoulder. his blonde hair is pointing every which way and sleep is heavy on his eyelids, threatening to weigh him down again any minute.

"I'm sorry, love," nanami speaks, voice rough and deep with exhaustion, but the sincerity in his apology clear.

then he's throwing the blanket back over you both. only he adds in a little extra warmth as he wraps his arm around your waist and throws a large leg over your body.

nanami buries his face in your neck, adjusting himself so that he can be as close to you as possible. only a few seconds pass before you hear his light snoring behind you. and you know the warmth you feel is from more than just his touch.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

The squad of all time has arrived on scene.

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Animals

The philosophy of animals, also known as animal philosophy or animal ethics, explores the ethical, metaphysical, and epistemological considerations related to non-human animals. It addresses questions about the moral status of animals, their treatment by humans, and their place in the natural world. Here are some key aspects of the philosophy of animals:

Moral Consideration: One central question in the philosophy of animals is whether non-human animals possess moral status and deserve moral consideration. Philosophers debate whether animals have intrinsic value, rights, or interests that humans are morally obligated to respect.

Speciesism: The concept of speciesism refers to the unjustified discrimination against individuals based solely on their species membership. The philosophy of animals critiques speciesist attitudes and practices that prioritize human interests over the interests of animals, leading to exploitation, cruelty, and oppression.

Animal Rights: Animal rights theory advocates for the recognition of legal and moral rights for animals, similar to those afforded to human beings. This includes rights such as the right to life, liberty, and freedom from suffering. Animal rights philosophers argue that animals are not mere property to be used for human purposes but are deserving of inherent dignity and respect.

Utilitarianism: Utilitarianism is a moral theory that assesses the rightness or wrongness of actions based on their consequences, aiming to maximize overall happiness or utility. In the context of animal ethics, utilitarian approaches consider the well-being and suffering of all sentient beings, including animals, in ethical decision-making.

Environmental Ethics: The philosophy of animals intersects with environmental ethics, which examines the moral relationship between humans and the natural environment. Some environmental ethicists argue for the protection of ecosystems and habitats as a means of safeguarding the interests of animals and preserving biodiversity.

Animal Minds: Philosophers also explore questions related to animal cognition, consciousness, and intelligence. They investigate the extent to which animals possess mental states, emotions, and forms of awareness that may confer moral significance and warrant ethical consideration.

Animal Welfare: Animal welfare concerns the well-being of animals and encompasses efforts to ensure that animals are treated humanely and provided with appropriate care and conditions. Philosophers discuss ethical principles and policies aimed at promoting animal welfare and mitigating harm in various contexts, such as agriculture, research, and entertainment.

Ethical Treatment: Discussions in the philosophy of animals often focus on the ethical treatment of animals in different domains, including food production, biomedical research, entertainment, and wildlife management. Ethical dilemmas arise regarding practices such as factory farming, animal testing, hunting, and captivity, prompting debates about the moral permissibility of these activities.

Overall, the philosophy of animals reflects a growing recognition of the moral significance of non-human animals and the need to reevaluate human-animal relationships in light of ethical considerations.

[reginalusus]

Alright, fuck it. *Displays their parallels via fake screenshots from a show that'll never exist.*

The first Harvey is based off a Keith Browning Harvey piece BTW. ^^

Sorry for the quality, I had to merge the GIFs into groups of two and compress the fuck out of these in order for this to post.

Ko-Fi.

[atlas-hope]

guess who rediscovered the feral ford tag

[arttsuka]

@wolfythewitch 's gravity fowls au, again...

Mcducket with Tate (when he was an egg)

Stan would sell 'mystery eggs' and it would just be rocks or something

[egophiliac]

buckle up lads we're going BACK INTO THE BOOK

[funtergeist]

[lotus-pear]

learning to love

[gummy-worms-in-my-brain]

i can lift up and spin various creatures

[relaxingifs]

Fantasia (1940) - The Pastoral Symphony

[hinamie]

sry i have chronic only draws megumi disorder the doctor said it's terminal :/