Subscribe now

Mind

This look at animal consciousness is a moral workout – in the best way

Some animals – and even machines – may turn out to be conscious. Must we wait for scientific certainty before sharing our rights, asks The Moral Circle

By Michael Marshall

29 January 2025

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

What does this monkey make of the image in the car mirror?

peters99/Getty Images

The Moral Circle
Jeff Sebo (W. W. Norton US: on sale; UK: March)

Should chimpanzees have rights? What about elephants? Or ants? Or microorganisms? And how about artificial intelligence?

These questions are at the heart of The Moral Circle: Who matters, what matters, and why, a crisply argued little book by philosopher Jeff Sebo. Based at New York University, Sebo has spent years arguing that consciousness is widespread in the animal kingdom and that we should extend our moral circle to encompass many more types…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop