Yeah, people seem to want to decrease the degree of separation between humans and animals. The scientists probably reach a bit in their conclusions, for many r

Yeah, people seem to want to decrease the degree of separation between humans and animals. The scientists probably reach a bit in their conclusions, for many reasons, and readers seem to me they may have some latent desire to bring humans and animals closer together, like they want a grand unifying law of life and ethics or maybe a link to our past and how consciousness evolved which could mean we have more reason to treat animals more like equals. I get it, that all seems good and fine. But looking at the general evidence I still conclude there is a huge difference between animals and people. And I think the results of experiments don't change anything, regardless of what they find we should respect animals even though they're "just animals". I liked the experience vs awareness model presented in Stumbling Upon Happiness where people think about the future (awareness of what's happening to them/others) and animals simply operate in the moment based on instincts and being informed by memories (experience). I think that is a pretty good model for the difference.