Emergence Magazine Podcast The Ethics of Listening to Whales – A Conversation with James Bridle, Rebecca Giggs, César Rodríguez-Garavito, and Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee
May 27, 2025
In this enlightening discussion, César Rodríguez-Garavito, legal scholar and founder of the MOTH Life Collective, James Bridle, tech-savvy author and artist, and Rebecca Giggs, acclaimed author of Fathoms, dive deep into the ethics of understanding whale communication. They explore how AI could potentially translate sperm whale sounds and the moral complexities around this endeavor. The trio discusses redefining intelligence in the animal kingdom, the historical context of whale protection, and emphasizes the importance of ethical listening in building kinship with these majestic creatures.
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Broadening Intelligence Definitions
- Our human-centric view of intelligence limits recognition of other species' cognition.
- Language is a powerful but narrow lens to assess intelligence and communication.
Whale Symbolism and Risks
- Whales were initially seen as symbols of consciousness and culture for environmental activism.
- Romanticizing their communication risks flattening their complex intelligence and culture.
Voyage on Replica Whaling Ship
- James Bridle shares an experience of a recreated whaling ship voyage off the US coast.
- Some whales encountered may remember historic whaling activities, highlighting deep histories.
