| Title: |
Imagination, Creativity, and Nonhuman Animals |
| Authors: |
Shevlin, Henry |
| Source: |
The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Imagination and Creativity ; page 527-542 ; ISBN 9780197694824 9780197694855 |
| Publisher Information: |
Oxford University PressNew York, NY |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Description: |
This chapter presents an overview of the key evidence and major debates concerning imagination and creativity in nonhuman animals. It begins with a brief survey of some putatively creative and imaginative examples of animal behavior, namely insight, complex problem-solving, memory, and innovation. It goes on to consider the major methodological and conceptual challenges inherent in attributing these capabilities to animals, including the application of Morgan’s Canon and the controversial role of consciousness in creativity and imagination. It next addresses the implications of these debates in the context of ethics and cognitive science. It concludes by exploring the promising areas of frontier research in this domain, including the growing work on understanding the role of culture in animal behavior and efforts to better interpret animal signaling and communication. |
| Document Type: |
book part |
| Language: |
English |
| ISBN: |
978-0-19-769482-4; 978-0-19-769485-5; 0-19-769482-9; 0-19-769485-3 |
| DOI: |
10.1093/9780197694855.003.0035 |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.1093/9780197694855.003.0035; https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/chapter-pdf/66559153/workid-usac0033886-book-part-35.pdf |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.9EAFD10B |
| Database: |
BASE |