Introduction to sentience

What is sentience

Sentience is the capacity to be affected positively or negatively. It is nearly synonymous with consciousness. Read more

The problem of consciousness

Close up of caterpillar climbing on branches

How does consciousness emerge? We don’t yet know what causes it to arise. We do have reasons to conclude certain animals are sentient, while others are not. Read more

Consciousness and self-consciousness

Consciousness is being aware. Self-consciousness is being aware of oneself. Being conscious, rather than self-conscious, is the key concept in ethics. Read more

Animal consciousness and cognition

Three parrots groom each other in the grass

Animal cognition is studied much more than animal consciousness. It should be the other way around, because consciousness is more relevant to animal ethics. Read more