Citation

Author Website

https://grinde.one

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Carolyn A. Ristau, Précis of: "Birds, Bats and Minds: Tales of a Revolutionary Scientist, Donald R. Griffin"

Abstract

Carolyn Ristau has done a fine job summarizing the work and life of the zoologist Donald Griffin. Most scientists now accept the existence of animal sentience, but identifying which species possess consciousness remains controversial. Griffin defined consciousness as "the subjective state of feeling or thinking about objects and events.” Nonconscious processes are faster and more energy-efficient, however, and often drive behavior. Consciousness probably evolved for complex decision-making, shaped by evolutionary continuity, with feelings as a common currency for evaluating outcomes. Its survival advantage may be limited, and its presence across species varies depending on evolutionary trajectories.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic License

Author Biography

Bjørn Grinde received his education in natural sciences, psychology, and anthropology from the University of Oslo. He is a former Chief Scientist at the Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health. A primary focus has been to understand how evolution formed the human brain and our capacity to enjoy life. Website

DOI

10.51291/2377-7478.1861