Response to Sebastian's "Humanizing Animals"

            In short, yes, we are always at risk of anthropomorphizing animals.  It is also well within the realm of possibility that we overdue it at times.  However, in a sense, we have no real choice.  We only have access to one type of consciousness, i.e. our own.  In speculating about the consciousness of other species, we are forced to do so in ways that relate to our own experience.  I agree with you that it is possible that animals have entirely different experiences than we do.  And that is, perhaps, important to always keep in mind.  Yet, as Bermond pointed out, assuming that a being’s consciousness is somehow qualitatively different from our own makes it impossible to discuss.  That we can only discuss consciousness as it relates to our own experience is indeed a limitation, but arguably one we cannot avoid.