

Do Animals Understand Death?, with Susana Monsó
Mar 6, 2025
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.
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Transcript
Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6
Intro
00:00 • 2min
Exploring Animal Cognition and the Concept of Death
01:50 • 3min
Reflections on Life and Death
04:58 • 11min
Exploring Animal Awareness of Death
15:55 • 5min
Animal Perspectives on Death
20:59 • 8min
The Intersection of Animal Behavior and Philosophy of Death
29:12 • 3min