Pigs are both intelligent and sentient—capable of feeling. It is clear that it is illogical and immoral to treat pigs as mere objects.
Introduction
Pigs are fascinating animals. Science shows they can solve
challenging problems, love to play, display wide-ranging emotions,
and have unique personalities. In short, they are both intelligent
and sentient—capable of feeling. It’s clear that it is illogical and
immoral to treat pigs as mere objects.
In 2015, I reviewed an essay notable for its summary and
distillation of research on sentience in pigs. Compiled by
researchers Lori Marino and Christina M. Colvin and published in the
International Journal of Comparative Psychology, “Thinking Pigs: A
Comparative Review of Cognition, Emotion, and Personality in Sus
domesticus” unearthed some interesting findings.
The main aims of the paper were to present pig psychology separate
from its role in agriculture and pinpoint critical areas for further
exploration. To accomplish these aims, “Thinking Pigs” considered
various topics, including domestication, sensory abilities, learning
skills, time perception, spatial learning and memory, novelty
seeking, social cognition and complexity, self-awareness,
personality, curiosity, and play.
“Pigs display consistent behavioral and emotional characteristics
that have been described variously as personality… [:] coping
styles, response types, temperament, and behavioral tendencies,” the
researchers concluded. Advocating for greater respect and
understanding of pigs’ complex mental capacities, the authors called
for a shift in how humans perceive and interact with them.
The Cognitive Lives of Pigs
Since “Thinking Pigs” was published, many other studies have shown
that pigs possess cognitive abilities widely accepted as indicating
“human-like” intelligence. For example, a 2023 explainer by Rachel
Graham for Sentient Media titled “Pigs Are Intelligent and Clean
Animals, Actually” cites several studies revealing pigs to be even
more sociable and intelligent than was previously known.
Pigs use tools in different situations and have been seen using
sticks to dig and build a nest. Like primates (including humans),
wolves, and birds, pigs employ third-party mediation, adopting a
“triadic contact” strategy to resolve group disputes.
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