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Cognitive Ethology: Past, Present and Speculations on the Future

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 June 2023

Carolyn A. Ristau
Carolyn A. Ristau*
Affiliation:
Barnard College of Columbia University
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The term “cognitive ethology” was introduced by Donald R. Griffin in his book The Question of Animal Awareness (1976). He regarded “cognitive ethology” as a study of the mental life of animals particularly as they solve everyday problems in their natural world.

A cognitive ethologist focusses on problems faced in an animal's natural world. We should be open to the possibility that the animals are solving more complex problems than have typically been set them in the lab. Thus ethological data may reveal more advanced animal cognitive capacities. On the other hand, laboratory study can lead one to search in the wild for cognitive capacities not previously apparent; the various ape and other animal “language” experiments are a case in point (Ristau and Robbins 1982 and Ristau in press). Furthermore, raising the possibility that animals have complex mental processes and are conscious may change the way we explore their behavior.

Type
Part IV: Cognitive Ethology
Information
PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association , Volume 1992 , Issue 2: Volume Two: Symposia and Invited Papers 1992 , 1993 , pp. 125 - 136
Copyright
Copyright © 1993 by the Philosophy of Science Association

Footnotes

1

I thank D. Ingle and D. Mook for constructive comments and D. Ingle for extensive discussions and editorial suggestions as well.

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