Jonathan Birch (philosopher)

Jonathan Birch
Jonathan Birch
	Birch in 2023
Alma mater	University of Cambridge (BA, MPhil, DPhil)
Organization	London School of Economics and Political Science
Website	personal.lse.ac.uk/birchj1/

Jonathan Birch is a British philosopher and professor of philosophy at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His work addresses the philosophy of biology and behavioural sciences, especially questions concerning sentience, bioethics, animal welfare, and the evolution of social behaviour and social norms.^[1]

In 2017, he published the book The Philosophy of Social Evolution, which explores social behaviour in everything from microorganisms to humans and higher primates.^[2] In 2021, he was the Principal Investigator of a review that led the UK to recognize cephalopods and decapod crustaceans as sentient.^[3] In 2024, he published the book The Edge of Sentience, which examines the concept of sentience, whether artificial intelligence or animals like insects may be sentient, and how to handle the uncertainty.^[4]

^ "Dr Jonathan Birch". London School of Economics. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
^ Birch, Jonathan (2017). The Philosophy of Social Evolution. Oxford University Press.
^
Commentary:
- "UK Sentience Bill passes final stages to recognise decapod and cephalopod sentience by law". Eurogroup for Animals. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- Rowan, Andrew N.; D'Silva, Joyce M.; Duncan, Ian J. H.; Palmer, Nicholas (2021). "Animal sentience: History, science, and politics". Animal Sentience. 31 (1). doi:10.51291/2377-7478.1697. S2CID 248791711.
- Wickens, S. (2023). "Review of the evidence of sentience in cephalopod molluscs and decapod crustaceans". Animal Welfare. 31 (1): 155–156. doi:10.1017/S0962728600009866. S2CID 255676202.
- Aridi, Rasha (21 November 2021). "Lobsters, Crabs and Octopuses Will Now Receive Welfare Protection as 'Sentient Beings' in the U.K." Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- Schonfeld, Alexandra (22 November 2021). "U.K. Government Expands Animal Welfare Bill to Include Lobsters". Newsweek.
^ Birch, Jonathan (19 July 2024). The Edge of Sentience: Risk and Precaution in Humans, Other Animals, and AI. Oxford University Press.

[LSE-1] "Dr Jonathan Birch". London School of Economics. Retrieved 17 July 2023.

[2] Birch, Jonathan (2017). The Philosophy of Social Evolution. Oxford University Press.

[Sentience_Act-3] Commentary:
"UK Sentience Bill passes final stages to recognise decapod and cephalopod sentience by law". Eurogroup for Animals. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2023.

Rowan, Andrew N.; D'Silva, Joyce M.; Duncan, Ian J. H.; Palmer, Nicholas (2021). "Animal sentience: History, science, and politics". Animal Sentience. 31 (1). doi:10.51291/2377-7478.1697. S2CID 248791711.

Wickens, S. (2023). "Review of the evidence of sentience in cephalopod molluscs and decapod crustaceans". Animal Welfare. 31 (1): 155–156. doi:10.1017/S0962728600009866. S2CID 255676202.

Aridi, Rasha (21 November 2021). "Lobsters, Crabs and Octopuses Will Now Receive Welfare Protection as 'Sentient Beings' in the U.K." Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 26 July 2023.

Schonfeld, Alexandra (22 November 2021). "U.K. Government Expands Animal Welfare Bill to Include Lobsters". Newsweek.

[4] "UK Sentience Bill passes final stages to recognise decapod and cephalopod sentience by law". Eurogroup for Animals. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2023.

[5] Rowan, Andrew N.; D'Silva, Joyce M.; Duncan, Ian J. H.; Palmer, Nicholas (2021). "Animal sentience: History, science, and politics". Animal Sentience. 31 (1). doi:10.51291/2377-7478.1697. S2CID 248791711.

[6] Wickens, S. (2023). "Review of the evidence of sentience in cephalopod molluscs and decapod crustaceans". Animal Welfare. 31 (1): 155–156. doi:10.1017/S0962728600009866. S2CID 255676202.

[7] Aridi, Rasha (21 November 2021). "Lobsters, Crabs and Octopuses Will Now Receive Welfare Protection as 'Sentient Beings' in the U.K." Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 26 July 2023.

[8] Schonfeld, Alexandra (22 November 2021). "U.K. Government Expands Animal Welfare Bill to Include Lobsters". Newsweek.

[book_edge-4] Birch, Jonathan (19 July 2024). The Edge of Sentience: Risk and Precaution in Humans, Other Animals, and AI. Oxford University Press.

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