“Pain,” and the “pain response,” are vital operating functions for all animals. The study is published in the journal Science. Invertebrates such as octopuses may experience other emotions such as curiosity in exploration, affection for individuals, or excitement in anticipation of a future reward.” “But pain is just one morally relevant emotion. “If they can no longer be considered immune to felt pain, invertebrate experiences will need to become part of our species’ moral landscape,” she concludes. Andrews believes a day will soon come when humanity can no longer tell itself crayfish, shrimp, and other invertebrates are emotionless and invulnerable to pain. Will seafood become part of ‘our species’ moral landscape’? To determine that, we need greater co-operation between scientists and ethicists.” “We don’t have sufficient science right now to know exactly what the proper treatment of certain species should be. How exactly to treat other animals remains an open research question,” Prof. So, it’s really about retraining the way we see the world. “When we’re going about our normal lives, we try not to do harm to other beings. They just aren’t as well equipped to vocalize or describe those feelings. It may be an uncomfortable truth, but the study authors say animals really do feel emotions and pain just like humans. Life is certainly simpler when someone can order crab cakes or calamari at a restaurant without feeling guilty. The team suggests that Western culture has been slow to accept the sentience of invertebrates due to all of the ethical and moral questions it raises. A mother cow will often become distressed if her calf is in pain or some kind of trouble. Some animals, such as cows, even display signs of empathy. Research over the past few decades on mammals, fish, octopuses, and crabs have all produced the same results: Animals avoid pain and dangerous situations to the best of their abilities in any given situation. These beliefs may be prevalent and ingrained in some cultures, but researchers say they aren’t grounded in science. Even today, countless people believe most animals, including invertebrates, don’t experience pain and merely react unconsciously to negative stimuli. It may seem hard to believe now, but up until the 1980s there were some who theorized that “pre-verbal human babies” did not feel pain. So, it’s pretty cutting-edge what seems to be happening in the U.K. “It’s been a real struggle even to get fish and mammals recognized under welfare law as sentient. The study emphasizes that up until now, Western culture has largely proclaimed that other animals don’t feel emotions or pain. The report discusses both the ethical and policy considerations that would arise if the world considered these animals sentient. Professor Andrews, in collaboration with Professor Frans de Waal, director of the Living Links Center at Emory University, authored this latest report on the subject of emotions and animals. government found there is strong enough evidence to conclude that decapod crustaceans and cephalopod mollusks are sentient,” says study co-author and philosopher Kristin Andrews, the York Research Chair in Animal Minds, in a university release. “A London School of Economics (LSE) report commissioned by the U.K. If universally agreed upon, the conclusion that invertebrates feel emotions will almost certainly hold moral implications for millions as they sit down and decide what to eat. They’re even capable of completing puzzles that would give some humans pause and can recognize other organisms they’ve interacted with before. Previous studies have shown that octopuses are very smart and socially sharp creatures. The vast majority of countries do not recognize invertebrates as sentient, but the United Kingdom is already mulling changes to its animal welfare legislation that would change this. Researchers from York University argue that octopuses, crabs, lobsters, crayfish, and other invertebrates are indeed sentient and can feel pain, anger, fear, and happiness. TORONTO - Prepare to feel especially guilty the next time you order seafood.
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