Consciousness

All this talk about fish and whether they have consciousness or not has befuddled me and motivated me to do research on the matter. If animal rights activists are to judge and calculate the consciousness of nonhuman animals they should first think of how humans are different from the rest of the organisms out there. We are obviously more superior and intellectual, and we are the only organism to have evolved and adapted in such a short time, and to have made a great leap in intellect and consciousness. This is what I believe separates us from other organisms; you don’t see fish evolving or adapting to the changing world, or dogs, or even primates.

A “mirror test” brought up by Gordon G. Gallup, a psychologist, is able to expand on the matter. By revealing a mirror to chimpanzees that have never seen one before they expressed the ability of self recongnition, as does a human baby when exposed to a mirror. This test is just one of many ways to measure the cognitive levels of animals in relation to humans.

The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, describes humans as having “rational souls” and other animals as being a suited with their instincts in reproduction and survival. This argument about mans place in the world is still present in our society and what is the true meaning of reasoning and if other animals display it. The main question is how can how can one know that others have mental states that are anything like one's own? Until there is evidence of consciousness of nonhuman animals then there deserves to be rights and the question of ethics and morals, but until that happens the world should continue what it’s doing because it is neither bad nor good, it’s just natures way.