Join Susana Monsó, an Associate Professor at UNED Madrid and author of "Playing Possum: How Animals Understand Death," as she delves into the intriguing question of whether animals comprehend death. The discussion ranges from grieving elephants to ants that remove corpses, revealing complex animal behaviors related to mortality. Monsó shares insights on how pets like dogs react to the loss of their owners and explores the philosophical implications of animal consciousness. Can animals truly grasp their own mortality? This conversation will challenge your perception.
The podcast challenges the notion that only humans understand death, suggesting that some animals may grasp this complex concept through social interactions and experiences.
It emphasizes the distinction between grieving behaviors and the comprehension of mortality, highlighting that animals exhibit emotional responses that don’t necessarily imply an understanding of death as humans perceive it.
Deep dives
Philosophical Perspectives on Animal Understanding of Death
The discussion centers on the surprising lack of literature addressing whether animals can comprehend death, with many philosophers asserting that such understanding is a uniquely human trait. The speaker argues that this consensus among philosophers raises questions about the reliability of their conclusions, suggesting a need for deeper exploration into the cognitive abilities shared between humans and animals. As death is a complex concept intertwined with notions of absence and time, the default belief that only humans grasp it may overlook significant similarities in the emotional and cognitive capacities of other animals. The speaker's research aims to foster appreciation for animal intelligence and challenge assumptions regarding their moral considerations, depending on their understanding of mortality.
Grief vs. Understanding Death in Animals
There is a distinction between showing signs of grief and understanding the concept of death, which complicates our assumptions about animal behavior. For example, while many species exhibit grieving behaviors, such as carrying deceased young, this does not necessarily imply an understanding of mortality as humans perceive it. The speaker highlights that grief can occur without a comprehension of death, illustrated through parenting situations where animals express sorrow without the context of irreversible loss. This emphasizes the importance of examining emotional responses in animals independently from their understanding of death, as both are distinct phenomena.
Animals and the Spectrum of Death Understanding
The concept of death is presented as a spectrum, with some animals potentially reaching a minimal understanding of death through experiences and social interactions. Elephants, known for their strong social bonds and memory, serve as an example of animals that might comprehend elements of death due to their observations of deceased companions. The speaker theorizes that the process of developing an understanding of death involves cognition, emotion, and personal experience, which may allow certain species to recognize death in a more nuanced manner. Through this lens, the discussion opens up the possibility of various animal species possessing different levels of awareness regarding death, questioning the inherent capabilities of domestic animals like dogs, who may lack this understanding altogether.
What does it mean to understand death? For centuries, philosophers have argued that only humans can truly comprehend mortality. But what if they’re wrong?
In this episode, we speak with philosopher Susana Monsó, author of Playing Possum: How Animals Understand Death, to explore whether animals can grasp their own mortality. From grieving elephants to corpse-removing ants and possums that play dead, we investigate what animal behavior reveals about their concept of death. Do dogs understand when their owners pass away? Do predators recognize a corpse as different from prey? And what does this mean for how we treat animals?
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
