A defence of the existence of emotions in birds
Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tartu Ülikool
Abstract
This thesis demonstrates that (at least some) birds can feel emotions. First, it gives a
methodological justification for how one can make such attributions in the first place. Then
supplies behavioral and physiological evidence for emotions such as fear, anger, and affection.
It goes on to defend the idea that birds have the neurological and cognitive capacities for
emotions. It next turns towards cognitive and mental considerations, including intentionality,
mental content, language-like thought, and making attributions of propositional attitudes and
evaluative judgments to birds. It concludes by considering whether birds have human-like
emotions or bird-relative ‘schmemotions’.
Description
Keywords
practical philosophy, defence, emotions, birds