Marine Mammals Enact Individual Worlds

Abstract

Scientific literature describes the various ways th at we perceive animals and their contribution to ou r humanization. Our understanding of “animality” is c hanging, corresponding to an ever-increasing general knowledge of animals. Scientific studies pr ovide objective descriptions of the complexity of animal worlds. The present article discusses recent findings on socio-spatiality, social cognition, an d self-recognition in various marine mammal species, as well as the relevance and coherence of theories used to explain them. In a constructivist ethological approach, animals are not considered to be mere living organisms or objects, but rather, su bjects. All animals use their senses to create relationships with their physical and social enviro nments. Through their perceptions and actions, they give meaning to their surroundings; they enact indi vidual and specific worlds, known as umwelts . The human-animal relationship is an intersubjectivi ty. Examples from studies of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus ) and killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) can be used to hypothesize the existence of a context-dependent situated self. Finally, animal we lfare/well-being and the effectiveness of environmental enrichment programs can be re-evaluated in the context of this theoretical framework. In sum, no objective world exists; rather, we propo se the existence of multiple context-dependent cognitive and subjective umwelts . The present article is the first to consider mari ne mammals with this perspective.