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Year 10 - Religious education

Sentience and animal consciousness

Personhood: what does it mean to be alive?

Unit Summary

Pupils will consider what it is that makes a person who they are by examining religious and philsophical explanations for self and conciousness. Next, they will examine the idea of sentience in animals before evauating whether non-human objects of nature, such as rivers, can be said to be alive.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain how philosophers and scientists use evidence to argue for different positions about conciousness in animals.

Key Notes

  • There is much deabte amongst scientists as to whether animals have conciousness.
  • The debate centres on the defintion of conciousness and the evidence for it.
  • Some scientists and philosophers prefer the term sentience.
  • Different understandings lead to different attitudes towards animals.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • awareness: noticing or knowing something is happening
  • consciousness: the state of being aware of and able to think about one's existence, thoughts and surroundings
  • sentience: the capacity to experience pain or pleasure
  • suffering: the experience of pain or distress

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Sentience and consciousness mean the same thing.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

There is much deabte amongst scientists as to whether animals have conciousness. The debate centres on the defintion of conciousness and the evidence for it.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'awareness'

noticing or knowing something is happening.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: Sentience and consciousness mean the same thing. Correction: Sentience refers to the ability to feel pain or pleasure, but consciousness is broader; it can include awareness, self-reflection and thought.

More Lessons In This Unit

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