ABSTRACT
We are aware of the capacities of the human mind such as consciousness, intelligence, empathy, love – but are these capacities only of the human mind? What are the other big brains that share our planet doing with what’s inside their heads? Elephants and apes, dolphins, birds, fish – are they completely devoid of mental experience? Are they just machines? It doesn’t seem so. There are at least three very good ways in. You can look at brains, you can consider evolution and you can watch what they do. Our favourite story is: We are special; we are the best; we are the only ones who matter. But there are many other creatures out there who are what I call “who” animals. “Who” animals know who they are. What I think makes us human is that we are the most extreme of all the animals. We are the most creative and the most destructive and the most compassionate and the cruellest animal that has ever lived. That’s us. We are all of those things together. But we are not the only ones who love each other, we are not the only ones who care for our mates or for our children. We are not the measure of all things, and we are not alone in the world. Is understanding these things enough? Do we humans possess the consciousness, self-awareness and empathy to simply let other animals continue to exist?
