Frequently asked questions – ethics
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What Are the Alternatives to Animal Testing?
Examples include in-vitro research, computer modelling, epidemiology and clinical research.
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Would You Save Your Child or Your Dog?
The original FAQ distinguishes personal rescue choices from the ethics of animal research.
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Do Plants Move Their Leaves to Follow the Sun?
A response to the claim that plant movement proves consciousness.
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Are There Religions That Believe Plants Have Souls?
The original answer discusses beliefs about reincarnation as plants or animals.
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Is It Acceptable to Kill Animals That Lack Consciousness?
The original answer considers the ethical status of an animal species if it lacks consciousness.
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Where Does Consciousness Begin in the Animal Kingdom?
The original FAQ defines consciousness here as the ability to feel sensations such as pain or hunger.
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Are Only Humans Able to Pass Cultural Information from One Generation to the Next?
An experiment described in the FAQ suggests rats can pass learned food avoidance across generations.
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How Do We Know That Other Animals Can Feel Pain?
The original answer compares how humans and other animals physically respond to painful situations.
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Are Only Humans Able to Use Language and Understand Abstract Concepts?
Examples in the original FAQ include parrot communication, prairie-dog calls and dolphin language.
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Are Only Humans Self-Aware?
The original FAQ discusses mirror tests and other examples of animal self-awareness.