Abstract

The last decade has seen an explosion of interest in the subject of animal consciousness. Conferences, journals, and new books are emerging at an accelerating rate. Why is this happening? In this article, I explain the ethical and scientific importance of animal consciousness that has fuelled this rising interest in animal minds. First, I will focus on the relevance of consciousness to the status of animals as subjects of moral concern. Second, I will explain the significance of the scientific study of animal consciousness for understanding consciousness more broadly, including insights into ourselves.