Comprising 15 contributions from the Netherlands, this volume examines animal consciousness and animal ethics. The central question of the first, philosophical part of the book concerns the concept of consciousness in general, and animal consciousness in particular, and the way to acquire knowledge of conscious animal experiences. The second, scientific part covers the area of ethology and neuroscience. In this part experimental and theoretical approaches to animal consciousness, animal experiences, and their implications for animal welfare are discussed. The last part of the book covers the area of of animal ethics.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Philosophy and animal consciousness: Fighting against umbrellas - an essay on consciousness, Wim J. van der Steen; Conscientiousness and consciousness - how to make up our minds about the animal mind? Jan Vorstenbosch; Awareness, self-awareness and perception - an essay on animal consciousness, Monica Meijsing; Less is different - discontinuity between animal and human consciousness, Susanne Lijmbach; Investigating the animal's point of view - an enquiry into a subject-based method of measurement in the field of animal welfare, Francoise Wemelsfelder. Part 2 Science and animal consciousness: The emotional vertebrate, Piet R. Wiepkema; Animal welfare? an ethological contribution to the understanding of emotions in pigs, Francien H. de Jonge; Suffering and well-being and the study of behaviour, Jeroen van Rooijen; The myth of animal suffering, Bob Bermond; Reflections on the organisation of mind, brain and behaviour, Ruud van den Bos. Part 3 Ethics and animal consciousness: Psychological complexity and animal ethics - choosing between hierarchy and equality, Esteban Rivas; Animal ethics or the conscious of the Umwelt, Tjard de Cock Buning; Consciousness, science and conscience, F. Jan Grommers; Animal welfare, public policy and ethics, Frans W.A. Brom; A view of intrinsic value not based on animal consciousness, Henk Verhoog, Thijs Visser. Epilogue: Dutch research on animal consciousness and ethics, Rob de Vries.