Cognitive Ethology & Anthropomorphism

Cognitive ethology

the study of cognitive processes in nonhuman animals 

• The study of the mental experiences of animals as they behave in their natural environment in the course of their natural lives 

Skeptics

We have no way to measure this, but we should investigate

Critics

this is anthropomorphic and subjective

Donald Griffin

father of ethology for “other animals”

• animals are conscious and thinking

• influential for Jane goodall and dian fossey 

• discovered echolocation for navigation, founded principles that led to sonar 

• argued animals were conscious and talked about the way they think 

History of Animal Cognition

• varied over time, no trend 

  • animals beast of burden, food, friends, soulless, property, helpers, etc 

• Xenophon also argued cognition 

• 1600s: beginning ideas that we should treat animals with care

• 1800s: Black Beauty

Consciousness

probably one of the most important and perplexing areas of philosophical understanding of animal cognition 

• Concept is notoriously ambiguous, and nearly impossible to quantify

Cognitive Potential

McGreevy + McLean

• How could such a big animal be so tolerant, gentle, and forgiving 

• Most likely partly lies in the cognitive characteristics + learning 

What we know

Animals learn w/variety of methods, sometimes persists or extinction

• Animals think→ problem solving isn’t just a human trait

  • trial and error, tools 

• Animals are sentient→they can feel 

• Animals have consciousness→aware of world and can evaluate for potential 

• Animals are self aware→sense of self varies btwn species 

We don’t have all the answers

• We know that humans who love horses tend to overestimate the cognitive abilities of their horses

• Can lead to negative consequences 

  • “he knows what I mean” “stubborn” 

• Others can underestimate

  • beast of burden 

Be careful how we value horses 

work w/them in a way that capitalizes on their natural ability 

• Be the thinking partner and set them up for success 

• Observe and assess w/clinical applications of training 

Anthropomorphism

assigning human characteristics to other nonhuman things 

• innate human behavior→from deities to machines

Positive 

promotes value, improves life quality for lesser animals, allows us to talk about things that would otherwise make us uncomfy if they were human 

Negative

dehumanized humans, welfare implications for horses, our expectations 

McGreevy + McLean