Why Animals Matter: Exploring Sentience The Natural Animal

In this week's episode, I am joined by world renowned expert on animal behaviour and animal emotions, Marc Bekoff, as we embark on a fascinating journey into the intricate tapestry of animal behaviour and cognition.

We explore the very essence of sentience, emotions, and cognitive acuity among animals, and uncover the profound implications of compassionate conservation, where every individual life holds inherent value, simply because they are alive.

From the biodiversity of sentience to the ethical dilemmas surrounding animal research, we leave no stone unturned. Hear firsthand accounts from Marc, as he shares his daily rituals of teaching, writing, and pondering the depths of animal emotions and protection.

Join us as we unravel the emotional lives of animals, from the release of captive creatures back into the wild, the moral implications of breeding animals for scientific profit, to the intricate social structures of our beloved canine companions. Delve into the mysteries of dog ancestry, the enigmatic behaviours of cats, and the art of giving animals agency.

As we debunk myths and misconceptions, we invite you to ponder: How can we deepen our understanding of animals and redefine our relationship with them? Tune in as we navigate these profound questions and contemplate what changes we can make to nurture a more compassionate coexistence between humans and the animal kingdom.

Here’s a point by point summary of the topics we delve into:


Evolution of behaviour
Sentience, emotions and cognitive skills
Animal protection has to be based on what they’re feeling, what they’re thinking, not what they know
Compassionate conservation - the life of every individual matters because they have inherent value, because they are alive
Biodiversity of sentience
A day in the life of Marc Bekoff - teaching at university, living a solitary live, rising early, writing, cycling, reading, research projects
Do we need more data on animal sentience?
Use of animals in research, including discussion on the numbering of vs naming of animals
Human interests vs animal interests
Does anthropomorphism equal empathy or is it mere sentimentality?
Assumptions on why humans are more important than animals
Fighting for the lives of lab animals after the research on them is over
The relevance of using animal models in medical research
Alternatives to animal research
Law vs Science in terms of defining animals
The profits of breeding animals for research
Marc’s observations on the emotional lives of animals
The release of captive animals back to the wild
The ability of animals to express their natural behaviours
Natural behaviours of dogs and cats
Side effects of dogs and cats not being able to express natural behaviours
Rescuing moon bears from the bear bile industry
What does it feel like to be a dog / wolf / coyote
Dog ancestry and evolutionary change
Are dogs the same as wolves
Managing ‘frustrating’ dog behaviours
Imposing human standards on animals
Giving animals agency - the freedom to make choices
Social structures of dogs
Providing dogs and cats with opportunities to express their natural behaviours
Dogs DeMystified - Marc’s new book on dog behaviours
Cat behaviours
Debunking the myth that cats aren’t social
How can we get to know animals better
What Marc would change about the human animal relationship

Links:

Visit Marc’s website

Read Marc’s essays on Psychology Today

Follow Marc on Twitter

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**BIG thank you to Bella Abraham for the beautiful podcast cover artwork & Michael Barry for the divine theme music**