Citation

Author Website

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/mark-briffa

https://www.gu.se/en/research/aquatic-animal-welfare-aaw  

Thread

Jonathan Birch, Précis of The Edge of Sentience: Risk and Precaution in Humans, Other Animals, and AI

Abstract

In The Edge of Sentience, Jonathan Birch (2024) provides a thought-provoking synthesis of current perspectives on animal (and artificial) sentience. He addresses the question from conceptual, ethical, regulatory and empirical viewpoints. Here we focus on some of the scientific issues raised, including defining and operationalising the concept of sentience and the implications for policy and regulation. Despite unresolved conceptual challenges, the book makes a compelling case for the continued scientific investigation of animal sentience.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic License

Author Biography

 Mark Briffa is Professor of Animal Behaviour at the University of Plymouth. His research examines animal decision-making and personality, especially during contest behaviour, and behavioural responses to environmental change, with a particular focus on crustaceans. He is interested in what behavioural evidence can reveal about animal awareness and sentience. Website

Lynne U. Sneddon leads the Aquatic Animal Welfare (AAW) group at Gothenburg conducting research into what aquatic animals can experience, identifying welfare challenges and then finding solutions to improve their wellbeing. By using an integrative approach in neuroanatomy, electrophysiology, physiology, molecular biology and animal behaviour AAW explore both positive and negative welfare states.  Website  

DOI

10.51291/2377-7478.1936