Exploring the Human-Animal Connection: Understanding Elephants

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The chapter delves into the complex relationship between humans and animals, particularly focusing on elephants and the ethical considerations surrounding hunting and animal treatment. It discusses the emotional and communal behaviors of elephants, highlighting their sense of morality and care for one another. The dialogue also explores the cognitive abilities and communication skills of elephants, shedding light on their intelligence and social interactions.

David and Tamler talk about Caitrin Keiper’s wonderful sprawling essay on elephant life and society and the many philosophical questions surrounding these extraordinary creatures. What kind of mental states can we attribute to them? Do they have a kind of language? Are they moral? What are our moral duties to them? What accounts for the long-standing taboo against ‘anthropomorphizing’ elephants and other complex non-human animals? And lots more.

Plus, a new segment “there should be a German word for this” - we come up with new German words for common phenomena or experiences. And a big announcement in the promo segment about the podcast going forward.

Please consider supporting a long-time listener’s attempt to get their family out of Gaza.[gofundme.com]

Links:

Do Elephants Have Souls? by Caitrin Keiper [thenewatlantis.com]