Why Aren't We Thinking About Animal Thinking?

It's easy for advocates of a particular cause to become so wrapped up in their own passions and perspectives that they can't see the forest for the trees — the forest, in the case of animal advocates who are pushing for human awareness of animal awareness, being  ... well, more awareness.

Nearly a month after Time magazine published what amounts to a twice-over retread of a cover story on animal thought and consciousness, the dust is settling without animal advocates' having done much more than tossing off a few caustic blog posts lambasting Time for recycling content. Shouldn't the fact that animals think and have feelings be obvious by this point, they ask?

Captain Obvious to the rescue: Apparently not, folks.

A venerable publication such as Time is not going to devote column inches — let alone a cover story — to a dead issue. Do animals think? Are they conscious? Are they self-aware? If only some animals are sentient, which ones? And why? Not only do these issues remain as fascinating to the reading public today as they did for Time's first cover story on the topic in 1993, but any resulting changes in behavior (as we arrive at new, more thoughtful conclusions) don't seem to be sinking in. Factory farming, zoos and other animal entertainment, cutting down or eliminating eating meat on a regular basis ... These topics may be old hat to animal advocates, but they're only just now rising to the surface for mainstream America.

All too often, the general public shuffles animal issues into the purview of extremists: rabid PETA members, crazy cat ladies, pallid vegans ... It's easy to cast these groups (and the ideas they support) into these stereotypical roles if we skip over what may be the most basic point of all: the essential similarities among humans and animals. It's not that we should be compassionate to these lesser creatures; it's that they think, feel and are aware in the same ways that we are. I've never seen the idea fail to kindle a spark of interest in listeners and readers.

Time magazine got it right when it went inside the minds of animals once again. If you're as fascinated as they are (and I am), chew on this selection of a dozen links offering  further food for thought:

1. The Bible and human "dominion" over animals: Superiority or responsibility?
2. It's time to respect cows
3. Avatar, avarice and animals: It's not all about us
4. Has the animal rights movement gone too far?
5. The animal bill of rights
6. Learning, deception, communication and morality among animals
7. Animal consciousness: What matters and why
8. Anthropomorphism versus animal consciousness
9. Eating humanely
10. Koko.org
11. Animal rights: Where's the dividing line?
12. Humans are not the unique creators of culture and morality

People are tired of being told their eating, entertainment and lifestyle choices are cruel, thoughtless and selfish. Thoughtful responses are much more likely when we're offered the opportunity to consider the ways that we all may be the same — humans and animals alike.

Photo credit: nailbender