Beyond Words

1. Animal Minds Are Real and Knowable

Surely they have inner lives of some sort.

The scientific barrier. For a long time, scientists were taught that the animal mind was unknowable, focusing only on observable behavior. However, the author argues that this barrier is artificial, as humans are also animals, and denying animal minds prevents true understanding.

Evidence points to consciousness. Similar nervous and hormonal systems, shared senses, and appropriate behavioral responses to situations (like fear or joy) provide strong evidence for consciousness and sentience in many animals. Insisting otherwise requires ignoring clear biological and behavioral data.

Widespread awareness. The "Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness" concluded that mammals, birds, and many other creatures, including octopuses, have nervous systems capable of consciousness. This confirms what observation suggests: animals experience life, feel pain and pleasure, and are aware of their surroundings.

2. Humans Are Animals, Not Apart From Nature

The barrier between humans and animals is artificial, because humans are animals.

Shared biological heritage. Humans share the same basic skeleton, organs, nervous systems, and hormones with other vertebrates. We are not fundamentally separate from the animal kingdom, but rather one species among many, differing mainly in external form and some internal adaptations.

Abilities on a scale. Many capacities once considered uniquely human, such as empathy, communication, grief, and toolmaking, exist to varying degrees in other animals. Viewing humans as the sole measure of all things leads us to overlook the rich inner lives and complex behaviors of other species.

Understanding animals as themselves. The goal should not be to see how much other animals are "like us," but to understand what they are truly like as elephants, wolves, or whales. Appreciating their distinct natures reveals more about the vast, interconnected web of life, including our own place within it.

3. Emotions Are Shared Across Species

Elephants experience joy. It may not be human joy. But it is joy.

Ancient emotional circuits. Core emotions like sadness, happiness, rage, and fear are generated in deep, ancient parts of the brain shared across many species. Electrical stimulation of these brain regions can trigger similar emotional responses in different animals.

Shared chemistry and responses. Many animals respond similarly to mood-altering drugs and carry the same stress-related hormones in their blood as stressed humans. Studies show evidence of anxiety in crayfish and zebrafish, suggesting that basic emotional systems are conserved across diverse life forms.

Observable feelings. When animals appear joyful in joyful contexts (playing, reuniting with family), fearful in dangerous situations, or listless after loss, the simplest interpretation is that they are experiencing those emotions. Denying this requires ignoring evidence and applying an unscientific bias.

4. Animal Societies Are Complex and Individual-Based

when others recognize and depend on certain individuals, when a death makes the difference for individuals who survive, when relationships define us, we have traveled across a certain blurry boundary in the history of life on Earth—"it" has become "who."

Intricate social networks. Many social animals, like elephants, wolves, and killer whales, live in complex societies with enduring relationships, friendships, rivalries, and strategic alliances. They recognize hundreds of individuals and understand third-party relationships.

Individuals matter. Personality and experience are crucial for survival and social dynamics. Elder matriarchs in elephant and killer whale societies hold vital knowledge and influence group decisions, and their loss can have devastating consequences for the family.

Fission-fusion dynamics. Like humans, many complex social animals live in groups that split and merge depending on circumstances and individual preferences. Relationships and personal compatibility often drive these dynamics, highlighting the importance of individual identity within the group.

5. Intelligence and Cognition Span Diverse Forms

The outstanding intelligence of humans appears to result from a combination and enhancement of properties found in non-human primates … rather than from ‘unique’ properties.

Beyond human measures. Intelligence is not a single linear scale with humans at the top. Different species possess diverse cognitive abilities adapted to their specific environments and challenges, such as:

• Honeybees' navigation and communication
• Octopuses' problem-solving and tool use
• Ravens' insightful reasoning
• Dolphins' sonar navigation and complex social strategies

Tool use is widespread. The ability to use tools, once thought unique to humans, is found in a surprising variety of animals, including apes, elephants, sea otters, dolphins, birds, octopuses, and even insects. This suggests that tool use is not solely tied to human-like intelligence or brain structure.

Cognitive flexibility. Animals demonstrate planning, memory, problem-solving, and the ability to adapt their behavior based on experience and changing circumstances. Judging their intelligence solely by human-centric tests or definitions fails to capture the richness of their cognitive lives.

6. Communication Goes Beyond Human Language

The silent power of true intent.

More than words. Communication is the transmission and understanding of messages, which doesn't require complex language or syntax. Animals use a rich repertoire of sounds, gestures, postures, scents, and context to convey meaning.

Vocabulary and nuance. While animals may lack human-like grammar, they possess vocabularies of calls and gestures with distinct meanings that are understood by their conspecifics. Examples include:

• Elephant rumbles conveying mood or intent ("Let's go")
• Vervet monkey alarm calls naming specific predators
• Dolphin signature whistles acting as individual names
• Ape gestures conveying desires like "Come here" or "Give me that"

Understanding intent. Animals demonstrate an understanding of the intentions of others, both conspecifics and humans. This is evident in play, deception, seeking help, and responding differently to various human behaviors, suggesting a form of "theory of mind" in action.

7. Domestication: A Two-Way Street

Dogs are now Canis lupus familiaris. Wolf. But familiaris says they are our wolf.

Self-domestication. Dogs are domesticated wolves, likely originating from wolves who became less fearful and more friendly around human camps, gaining survival advantages. This process may have been initiated by the wolves themselves.

Mutual adaptation. As dogs evolved to be oriented towards humans, humans also became oriented towards dogs, relying on them for hunting, guarding, and companionship. This coevolution led to a unique bond and shared emotional responses.

Domestication syndrome. The genetic changes associated with friendliness in domesticated animals (including dogs and bonobos) often bundle other traits like floppy ears, curly tails, smaller brains, and juvenile behaviors persisting into adulthood. Some researchers propose that humans also underwent a form of self-domestication, leading to changes in our social behavior and even physical traits.

8. Human Impact: A Profound and Often Tragic Force

An elephant every fifteen minutes.

Annihilation and compression. Human activities, particularly poaching for ivory and habitat destruction through expansion, have decimated animal populations and confined survivors to shrinking, isolated areas. This has shattered social structures and cultural knowledge vital for survival.

Psychological trauma. The killing of individuals, especially experienced elders, causes deep distress and long-term trauma in social animals, affecting their behavior, stress levels, and reproductive success for years. Orphans often struggle to survive without the knowledge and support of their families.

Conflict and misunderstanding. Competition for resources leads to conflict, often fueled by human biases and lack of understanding of animal needs and behaviors. While some animals learn to fear or avoid dangerous humans, others, like the Northwest killer whales, exhibit a puzzling lack of aggression towards people despite historical persecution.

9. The Mystery and Wonder of Other Minds

Perhaps our parameters on reality be set just a little too tight?

Beyond full comprehension. Despite scientific advances, much about the inner lives and cognitive abilities of animals remains mysterious. Our human perspective and limitations in communication prevent us from fully knowing what it is like to be another species.

Challenging anecdotes. Stories of seemingly inexplicable animal behaviors, such as killer whales guiding lost humans, animals seeking human help, or demonstrating complex understanding beyond current scientific models, challenge our assumptions and demand further investigation.

Openness and humility. Recognizing the depth and complexity of animal minds requires moving beyond anthropocentric biases and embracing a sense of wonder. Appreciating the diverse ways life is experienced on Earth enriches our understanding of the world and our place within it.

Last updated: June 25, 2025