Rethinking Animal Consciousness Research to Prioritize Well-Being.
Liv Baker, Barbara J King, William S Lynn
Cambridge quarterly of healthcare ethics : CQ : the international journal of healthcare ethics committees April 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1017/s0963180124000501 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA critique of the NY Declaration on Animal Consciousness argues that the declaration fails to condemn ongoing captivity and invasive research aimed at identifying markers of consciousness in animals. Such research, the authors contend, perpetuates animal suffering by tolerating harmful practices. They propose replacing this approach with a nonanthropocentric ethical framework grounded in the Belmont Report's principle of beneficence. This framework advocates for noninvasive research methods conducted in natural habitats, prioritizing animal well-being and recognizing the intrinsic value of all conscious beings.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Belmont report Animal agency Animal consciousness Animal dignity Animal wellbeing |
| Key finding | The NY Declaration on Animal Consciousness is critiqued for not denouncing continued captivity and invasive research, and a nonanthropocentric ethical framework based on beneficence is proposed instead. |
Abstract
The authors critique the NY Declaration on Animal Consciousness, which does not denounce continued captivity and invasive research in the pursuit of animal consciousness markers. They argue that such research often increases animal suffering by accepting harmful practices. Instead, they propose a nonanthropocentric, ethical framework aligned with the Belmont Report's principle of beneficence, advocating for noninvasive methods in natural habitats. This approach prioritizes animal well-being, recognizing and safeguarding the intrinsic value of all conscious beings.