SMART AND STUPID ANIMALS Overcoming prejudices on animals’ intelligence – Thursday, 24th November 2022 – Seminar by Cinzia Chiandetti

24/11/2022

We often doubt the intelligence of animals. But each species has evolved a peculiar form of intelligence to thrive in its evolutionary niche. There are common mental abilities that depend on common pressures, and unique abilities where each species can outperform another. This is independent from the us/them dichotomy. If we understand our cognitive biases in representing animals, we can reason and act knowledgeably in daily life with all species, a change in the paradigm that has several implications for our civic sense.