Will this be the decade when cetaceans are recognised as non-human persons?
Will dolphins be recognised as persons in the coming decade? The article ‘Are Whales and Dolphins the Great Apes of the Oceans?’ was posted to the WDCS website before Christmas. In January, the Times Online published an article noting that some scientists are asking whether dolphins should be recognised as non-human persons. Could this be the beginning of an enlightened age?
We live in an era of increasingly astounding discoveries related to the intelligence of dolphins, borne out through their behaviour and the underlying brain and sensory anatomy. We now know more about the complexities of the societies in which dolphins live; their use of tools; transmission of culture between generations; the very specific roles that individuals play within these societies; and even their sense of self.
At a time when questions are being raised about the nature and role of moral systems within non-human societies, and the likelihood of evolutionary continuity for such traits, it seems inevitable that a spot light will come to rest on our own treatment of other species. This will be particularly poignant for those species for which we can reliably demonstrate a certain level of intelligence and capacity for complex psychological suffering.
In February, scientists will be meeting in San Diego, California to present some of their discoveries about dolphin cognition and to discuss with well known philosopher Professor Thomas I. White whether it is time we recognise dolphins as non-human persons. There is little doubt that we now have ample evidence that dolphins are indeed complex, highly intelligent beings with individual characters, a sense of self and emotional sophistication. If researchers are correct in asserting that some dolphin species are even more intelligent that chimpanzees, isn’t it time we formally recognised dolphins as the non-human persons which they clearly are?
It seems inevitable that sense will ultimately reign on this issue and we will come to recognise that there are other intelligences on our planet that are as worthy of protection as our own. However, the timeframe for these revelations is hard to predict. First we must begin the process of breaking down our own human-centric prejudice and let the facts speak for themselves.
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