sentience
Sign in to savethumb|upright=1.2|Determining which animals can experience sensations is challenging, but scientists generally agree that vertebrates, as well as many [[invertebrate species, are likely sentient.]] Sentience is the ability to experience feelings and sensations. It may not necessarily imply higher cognitive functions such as awareness, reasoning, or complex thought processes. Some theorists define sentience exclusively as the capacity for valenced (positive or negative) mental experiences, such as pain and pleasure.
~17 min read
Article
13 sectionsContents
- Sentience in philosophy
- Consciousness
- Phenomenal vs. affective consciousness
- Sentience quotient
- Eastern religions
- Animal welfare, rights, and sentience
- Indicators of sentience
- Sentient animals
- Digital sentience
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Further reading
thumb|upright=1.2|Determining which animals can experience sensations is challenging, but scientists generally agree that vertebrates, as well as many [[invertebrate species, are likely sentient.]] Sentience is the ability to experience feelings and sensations. It may not necessarily imply higher cognitive functions such as awareness, reasoning, or complex thought processes. Some theorists define sentience exclusively as the capacity for valenced (positive or negative) mental experiences, such as pain and pleasure.
Sentience is an important concept in ethics, as the ability to experience happiness or suffering often forms a basis for determining which entities deserve moral consideration, particularly in utilitarianism.