Perceiving an Animal’s Reality: Combining Emotional and Cognitive Capacities in Attention to Non-Human Animals

Since its inception, Environmental Ethics has been interested in articulating why and how we should value the environment beyond human interests. This includes articulating how to properly value and respect non-human animals, which in turn requires understanding their potential needs and interests. Several philosophers (including Lori Gruen, Silvia Panizza, and Kristian Cantens) have argued that proper attention is necessary to accurately perceive non-human animals’ realities and determine how to properly value, respect, and act towards them. Many disagree, however, about which approach is best for attention to non-human animals. Some authors argue for involving cognitive capacities in attention while others argue for involving emotional capacities. Most state that the two approaches are mutually exclusive. I argue that any proper framework for attention to non-human animals should incorporate a combination of both emotional and cognitive capacities in order to gain a more accurate perception of non-human animals’ realities and situations. Engaging one’s emotional or cognitive capacities each brings a host of benefits to attention. Relying exclusively on either is nevertheless insufficient. I explain how combining emotional and cognitive capacities provides individuals with the tools necessary for avoiding the issues that may arise through the use of either capacity alone. I conclude that combining emotional and cognitive capacities in attention better enables people to respond ethically to individual non-human animals.