A history of lab animals and the fitful attempts to provide them some modicum of protection. Rats and mice, by far the most widely used animals in laboratory experiments, are afforded no protection under the Animal Welfare Act (i.e., they don’t count as “animals” for the purpose of the law). Now, rats don’t exactly elicit sympathetic feelings from most people, but, objectively speaking, there’s good reason to think that they are just as susceptible to pain and suffering as dogs and cats.
Category: Science
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Whence the cat?
Fascinating article about how and where cats were first domesticated. Not Egypt as you might think. I think it was Jeffrey Masson who said that cats are the only animal to truly benefit from domestication (as any cat owner can attest!).
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Justice among the beasts
Interesting review of a new book portraying behavior of animals that can fairly be described as moral (via). I think our resistance to seeing animals as in any way “moral” might be rooted in the Kantian legacy of modern moral philosophy. Roughly, for Kant, you’re only acting morally when you’re acting for the sake of the moral law, and in opposition to some natural inclination. By contrast, the Aristotelian tradition says that a moral agent is someone with the dispositions toward and habits of performing virtuous action. By that standard, many non-human animals would count as virtuous.
UPDATE: See John’s post here. I did speak hastily in characterizing Kant; acting morally for Kant doesn’t necessarily require acting in opposition to a natural inclination, but rather for the sake of the moral law (though there does seem to be something especially virtuous about doing what duty demands even when we have a strong inclination not to). John also points out that Aristotle is closer to Kant here than my post makes it sound. -
Why do we have pets?
A new book suggests that we get a bio-psychological reward from them. Salon interviews the author:
Touch releases oxytocin in humans and animals. Oxytocin is one of the most powerful hormones that the body makes. This is a chemical that is responsible for social bonding.
When you pat your cat, you should be getting a release of oxytocin, as should your cat, too, that slows your heart rate down, lowers your stress response. You feel this warmth and this attachment, as does the cat. So you’re getting an emotional and a physiological anti-stress response. It’s a wonderful renewable system.
Read the rest here.
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(Non-human) animals who use tools
Very cool. It seems like birds, in particular, are proving to be smarter than we thought. The mole rat face mask is pretty incredible too.
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The heavens declare the glory of the Lord
How cool is this–Hubble Telescope “Advent calendar”
(Thanks, bls!)
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Give thanks
It’s good for you (scientifically proven!).
Of course, it’s also meet, right and our bounden duty, in case you needed another reason.
A Thinking Reed 
