What animals choose

Abstract

If we want to try to understand the subjective feelings of animals, we have to try to see the world ‘from the animals’ point of view’. Obviously, non-human animals cannot tell us in so many words whether they are suffering. But, as we will see in this chapter, it may be possible to allow them to express at least some of their feelings, if not in words, then in actions. The particular actions which have been suggested for this role are those that result from what the animals choose and what they regard as rewarding and punishing. We will discuss both the advantages and the dangers of using this method as a way of assessing suffering. But first, we will see why it has been thought that choice, reward and punishment should be able to tell us anything at all about an animal’s feelings.