


Treves et al. (2019) make a convincing case that conservation efforts need to go beyond an anthropocentric worldview. Implementing that vision, however, will require human advocates to represent nonhuman interests. Where will the knowledge of those interests come from? How can humans know what is in the best interest of another animal, a plant, or an ecosystem? We discuss how the values embedded in current scientific practices may be ill-suited to representing nonhuman interests and we offer some ideas for correcting these shortcomings.

Author Biography

Becca Franks, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Studies, New York University, studies well-being and motivation, with a focus on aquatic animal welfare. Website

Christine Webb, College Fellow, Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, studies primate empathy and conflict resolution, human-animal relations, and animal ethics. Website

Monica Gagliano, Research Associate Professor of Evolutionary Ecology, University of Western Australia, and Research Fellow, Australian Research Council, has written many articles on animal and plant behavioural and evolutionary ecology. She pioneered the new research field of plant bioacoustics and recently extended the concept of cognition to plants, reigniting the discourse on plant subjectivity and ethical standing. Website

Barbara Smuts, Professor Emerita of Psychology, University of Michigan, studies social relationships in domestic dogs, dog evolution and interspecies relationships. Website