Simon Fitzpatrick
@simonfitzpatrick.bsky.social
Philosopher. Philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, animal cognition, animal ethics.
https://philpeople.org/profiles/simon-fitzpatrick
https://philpeople.org/profiles/simon-fitzpatrick
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
Last call for papers for the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology! Don't miss a fabulous program in sunny Atlanta this February. Submissions due Nov 20. See you there! #philosophy #psychology #CFP southernsociety.org
November 13, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Last call for papers for the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology! Don't miss a fabulous program in sunny Atlanta this February. Submissions due Nov 20. See you there! #philosophy #psychology #CFP southernsociety.org
SSPP submission deadline extended to Nov 20th!
The Philosophy call for papers for SSPP 26 is out! Speakers include Elisabeth Camp, Kristin Andrews, Muhammad Ali Khalidi, and Roberta Millstein. There'll also be a session in honor of Frans de Waal. Tell your friends! See you in Atlanta.
southernsociety.org/AnnualMeeting/
southernsociety.org/AnnualMeeting/
The Southern Society
southernsociety.org
November 10, 2025 at 7:37 PM
SSPP submission deadline extended to Nov 20th!
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
The Philosophy call for papers for SSPP 26 is out! Speakers include Elisabeth Camp, Kristin Andrews, Muhammad Ali Khalidi, and Roberta Millstein. There'll also be a session in honor of Frans de Waal. Tell your friends! See you in Atlanta.
southernsociety.org/AnnualMeeting/
southernsociety.org/AnnualMeeting/
The Southern Society
southernsociety.org
September 30, 2025 at 6:05 PM
The Philosophy call for papers for SSPP 26 is out! Speakers include Elisabeth Camp, Kristin Andrews, Muhammad Ali Khalidi, and Roberta Millstein. There'll also be a session in honor of Frans de Waal. Tell your friends! See you in Atlanta.
southernsociety.org/AnnualMeeting/
southernsociety.org/AnnualMeeting/
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
Which animals do you co-construct behaviours with? Read our new paper and get inspired! @anthrofuentes.bsky.social Thank you to @carlsbergfondet.dk, @aiasdk.bsky.social and the John F. Templeton Foundation
Great new paper by @mfhansen.bsky.social and Agustin Fuentes on human-macaque co-existence link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Human-macaque Co-construction of Behaviours: Sharing Spaces, Sharing Food, Sharing Lives - International Journal of Primatology
Humans and other-than-human-animals (animals) share spaces, food, and lives. This gives rise to possibilities of interspecific learning, social facilitation and interspecific communication, and the po...
link.springer.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Which animals do you co-construct behaviours with? Read our new paper and get inspired! @anthrofuentes.bsky.social Thank you to @carlsbergfondet.dk, @aiasdk.bsky.social and the John F. Templeton Foundation
Don't forget to submit to SSPP '26! Deadline is Nov 10th.
The Philosophy call for papers for SSPP 26 is out! Speakers include Elisabeth Camp, Kristin Andrews, Muhammad Ali Khalidi, and Roberta Millstein. There'll also be a session in honor of Frans de Waal. Tell your friends! See you in Atlanta.
southernsociety.org/AnnualMeeting/
southernsociety.org/AnnualMeeting/
The Southern Society
southernsociety.org
November 4, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Don't forget to submit to SSPP '26! Deadline is Nov 10th.
The Philosophy call for papers for SSPP 26 is out! Speakers include Elisabeth Camp, Kristin Andrews, Muhammad Ali Khalidi, and Roberta Millstein. There'll also be a session in honor of Frans de Waal. Tell your friends! See you in Atlanta.
southernsociety.org/AnnualMeeting/
southernsociety.org/AnnualMeeting/
The Southern Society
southernsociety.org
September 30, 2025 at 6:05 PM
The Philosophy call for papers for SSPP 26 is out! Speakers include Elisabeth Camp, Kristin Andrews, Muhammad Ali Khalidi, and Roberta Millstein. There'll also be a session in honor of Frans de Waal. Tell your friends! See you in Atlanta.
southernsociety.org/AnnualMeeting/
southernsociety.org/AnnualMeeting/
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
Humans have many unusual traditions. But did you know animals’ strange behaviors can become culture too? Out now in Current Biology (doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...) we show the rise and spread of a surprising tradition: interspecies infant abduction. Interactive timeline (www.ab.mpg.de/671374) 🧵 (1/12)
May 19, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Humans have many unusual traditions. But did you know animals’ strange behaviors can become culture too? Out now in Current Biology (doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...) we show the rise and spread of a surprising tradition: interspecies infant abduction. Interactive timeline (www.ab.mpg.de/671374) 🧵 (1/12)
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
PAMBA Santa Barbara begins! @simonfitzpatrick.bsky.social examines how and why animal culture matters
April 24, 2025 at 4:34 PM
PAMBA Santa Barbara begins! @simonfitzpatrick.bsky.social examines how and why animal culture matters
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
In the past 5 years, there’s been an explosion of new work on the philosophy & cog sci of norms. If you want to get up to speed on it, check out this newly revised SEP entry on the Psychology of Normative Cognition by @dryan149.bsky.social, Stephen Setman & me.
plato.stanford.edu/entries/psyc...
plato.stanford.edu/entries/psyc...
The Psychology of Normative Cognition (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
plato.stanford.edu
February 17, 2025 at 10:28 PM
In the past 5 years, there’s been an explosion of new work on the philosophy & cog sci of norms. If you want to get up to speed on it, check out this newly revised SEP entry on the Psychology of Normative Cognition by @dryan149.bsky.social, Stephen Setman & me.
plato.stanford.edu/entries/psyc...
plato.stanford.edu/entries/psyc...
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
New paper alert 📢📢📢
Study from the Taï chimpanzees shows that some gestures used by chimpanzees reflect dialects and that human activity has led to loss of cultural signal use. Please read here:
Signal traditions and cultural loss in chimpanzees: Current Biology www.cell.com/current-biol...
Study from the Taï chimpanzees shows that some gestures used by chimpanzees reflect dialects and that human activity has led to loss of cultural signal use. Please read here:
Signal traditions and cultural loss in chimpanzees: Current Biology www.cell.com/current-biol...
Signal traditions and cultural loss in chimpanzees
Malherbe and colleagues provide evidence for cultural gestural dialects in four chimpanzee
groups and document a unique case of cultural loss associated with anthropogenic pressure.
www.cell.com
February 3, 2025 at 5:04 PM
New paper alert 📢📢📢
Study from the Taï chimpanzees shows that some gestures used by chimpanzees reflect dialects and that human activity has led to loss of cultural signal use. Please read here:
Signal traditions and cultural loss in chimpanzees: Current Biology www.cell.com/current-biol...
Study from the Taï chimpanzees shows that some gestures used by chimpanzees reflect dialects and that human activity has led to loss of cultural signal use. Please read here:
Signal traditions and cultural loss in chimpanzees: Current Biology www.cell.com/current-biol...
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
In case you need a distraction from... *gestures broadly at everything* here's a cool 🚨NEW PREPRINT🚨:
Philosopher of medicine Cristian Saborido and I tackle the question of whether animals engage in medical practices.
Spoiler alert: we think they very much do👇🧵 1/20
Philosopher of medicine Cristian Saborido and I tackle the question of whether animals engage in medical practices.
Spoiler alert: we think they very much do👇🧵 1/20
Animal medicine - PhilSci-Archive
philsci-archive.pitt.edu
February 3, 2025 at 8:45 AM
In case you need a distraction from... *gestures broadly at everything* here's a cool 🚨NEW PREPRINT🚨:
Philosopher of medicine Cristian Saborido and I tackle the question of whether animals engage in medical practices.
Spoiler alert: we think they very much do👇🧵 1/20
Philosopher of medicine Cristian Saborido and I tackle the question of whether animals engage in medical practices.
Spoiler alert: we think they very much do👇🧵 1/20
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
Are humans the only species that communicates when a collaborator is missing information?
In @pnas.org, Luke Townrow and I show that our closest relatives, bonobos, can track when a partner is knowledgeable or ignorant, and tailor communication accordingly
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
In @pnas.org, Luke Townrow and I show that our closest relatives, bonobos, can track when a partner is knowledgeable or ignorant, and tailor communication accordingly
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
February 3, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Are humans the only species that communicates when a collaborator is missing information?
In @pnas.org, Luke Townrow and I show that our closest relatives, bonobos, can track when a partner is knowledgeable or ignorant, and tailor communication accordingly
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
In @pnas.org, Luke Townrow and I show that our closest relatives, bonobos, can track when a partner is knowledgeable or ignorant, and tailor communication accordingly
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
We are pleased to invite submissions for the 2025 PAMBA Prize essay contest in the philosophy of animal minds for early-career researchers. The winning paper will be published in Biology & Philosophy and presented as a keynote at the meeting in Santa Barbara. For details: www.the-pamba.com/prize
PAMBA Prize — PAMBA
www.the-pamba.com
December 9, 2024 at 4:50 PM
We are pleased to invite submissions for the 2025 PAMBA Prize essay contest in the philosophy of animal minds for early-career researchers. The winning paper will be published in Biology & Philosophy and presented as a keynote at the meeting in Santa Barbara. For details: www.the-pamba.com/prize
More cool work on nonhuman normativity! link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Normativity in Chimpanzees’ Tool Behavior - Topoi
In this paper, I will argue that chimpanzees deploy some normative sensitivity when they select (i) materials they will use to manufacture tools and (ii) objects to be used as tools. To defend this cl...
link.springer.com
December 5, 2024 at 9:39 PM
More cool work on nonhuman normativity! link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
📣 New publication!
Most animals used in research are also killed. The traditional 3Rs framework (Replace, Reduce, Refine) focuses solely on decreasing distress while ignoring the harm of death itself. This needs to change.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Most animals used in research are also killed. The traditional 3Rs framework (Replace, Reduce, Refine) focuses solely on decreasing distress while ignoring the harm of death itself. This needs to change.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
December 5, 2024 at 9:08 AM
📣 New publication!
Most animals used in research are also killed. The traditional 3Rs framework (Replace, Reduce, Refine) focuses solely on decreasing distress while ignoring the harm of death itself. This needs to change.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Most animals used in research are also killed. The traditional 3Rs framework (Replace, Reduce, Refine) focuses solely on decreasing distress while ignoring the harm of death itself. This needs to change.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
My latest book (w/ Andrew Fenton & Mary Lee Jensvold) is finally out! We argue that harmful research w/ NHPs must be held to same ethical standards as research w/ vulnerable humans.
The digital version is free Open Access: www.cambridge.org/core/element...
#Bioethics #ResearchEthics #AnimalEthics
The digital version is free Open Access: www.cambridge.org/core/element...
#Bioethics #ResearchEthics #AnimalEthics
The Three Pillars of Ethical Research with Nonhuman Primates
Cambridge Core - Developmental Psychology - The Three Pillars of Ethical Research with Nonhuman Primates
www.cambridge.org
December 4, 2024 at 5:09 PM
My latest book (w/ Andrew Fenton & Mary Lee Jensvold) is finally out! We argue that harmful research w/ NHPs must be held to same ethical standards as research w/ vulnerable humans.
The digital version is free Open Access: www.cambridge.org/core/element...
#Bioethics #ResearchEthics #AnimalEthics
The digital version is free Open Access: www.cambridge.org/core/element...
#Bioethics #ResearchEthics #AnimalEthics
Looking forward to the second (but my first) PAMBA in April! Should be a good time.
PAMBA 2025 in Santa Barbara is inching closer!
April 24-26 will be here before you know it, with keynote speakers
Dorit Bar-On
Laura Danón
Simon Fitzpatrick
Mark Rowlands
Stay tuned for the CFP and exciting news!
April 24-26 will be here before you know it, with keynote speakers
Dorit Bar-On
Laura Danón
Simon Fitzpatrick
Mark Rowlands
Stay tuned for the CFP and exciting news!
December 4, 2024 at 2:28 PM
Looking forward to the second (but my first) PAMBA in April! Should be a good time.
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
PAMBA 2025 in Santa Barbara is inching closer!
April 24-26 will be here before you know it, with keynote speakers
Dorit Bar-On
Laura Danón
Simon Fitzpatrick
Mark Rowlands
Stay tuned for the CFP and exciting news!
April 24-26 will be here before you know it, with keynote speakers
Dorit Bar-On
Laura Danón
Simon Fitzpatrick
Mark Rowlands
Stay tuned for the CFP and exciting news!
December 4, 2024 at 12:58 AM
PAMBA 2025 in Santa Barbara is inching closer!
April 24-26 will be here before you know it, with keynote speakers
Dorit Bar-On
Laura Danón
Simon Fitzpatrick
Mark Rowlands
Stay tuned for the CFP and exciting news!
April 24-26 will be here before you know it, with keynote speakers
Dorit Bar-On
Laura Danón
Simon Fitzpatrick
Mark Rowlands
Stay tuned for the CFP and exciting news!
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
New paper out in Animal Cognition: bumblebee social learning, Lego, and DeepLabCut 🙂 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Bumblebee social learning outcomes correlate with their flower-facing behaviour - Animal Cognition
Previous studies suggest that social learning in bumblebees can occur through second-order conditioning, with conspecifics functioning as first-order reinforcers. However, the behavioural mechanisms u...
link.springer.com
November 27, 2024 at 10:30 AM
New paper out in Animal Cognition: bumblebee social learning, Lego, and DeepLabCut 🙂 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
For once I really like the headline that an outlet picked: "To truly understand non-human grief, we need to think like the animals", my latest piece for New Scientist.
To truly understand non-human grief, we need to think like the animals
Evidence that animals mourn the death of loved ones is growing, but we should be wary of letting our biases cloud this topic, says philosopher Susana Monsó
www.newscientist.com
November 27, 2024 at 10:01 AM
For once I really like the headline that an outlet picked: "To truly understand non-human grief, we need to think like the animals", my latest piece for New Scientist.
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
Animals—from bees to butterflies, porcupines to primates—medicate themselves. They seek out bitter plants, they treat wounds, they amputate limbs, they eat clay. How do they know what they know?
Our latest episode—a chat with @jaapderoode.bsky.social & M. Huffman!
Listen: disi.org/animal-heal-...
Our latest episode—a chat with @jaapderoode.bsky.social & M. Huffman!
Listen: disi.org/animal-heal-...
November 26, 2024 at 4:57 PM
Animals—from bees to butterflies, porcupines to primates—medicate themselves. They seek out bitter plants, they treat wounds, they amputate limbs, they eat clay. How do they know what they know?
Our latest episode—a chat with @jaapderoode.bsky.social & M. Huffman!
Listen: disi.org/animal-heal-...
Our latest episode—a chat with @jaapderoode.bsky.social & M. Huffman!
Listen: disi.org/animal-heal-...
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
Our book came out today 🥳
In 'What Are Zoos For?' we examine the common justifications for zoos and argue that zoos are (or should be) for animals, placing animal welfare at the centre of their operations.
Order here, or through most online booksellers:
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-a...
In 'What Are Zoos For?' we examine the common justifications for zoos and argue that zoos are (or should be) for animals, placing animal welfare at the centre of their operations.
Order here, or through most online booksellers:
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-a...
What Are Zoos For?
What Are Zoos For?; Heather Browning and Walter Veit test the common justifications for zoos (entertainment, education, research, conservation) against the evidence and suggest what the best zoos of t...
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk
November 26, 2024 at 1:03 PM
Our book came out today 🥳
In 'What Are Zoos For?' we examine the common justifications for zoos and argue that zoos are (or should be) for animals, placing animal welfare at the centre of their operations.
Order here, or through most online booksellers:
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-a...
In 'What Are Zoos For?' we examine the common justifications for zoos and argue that zoos are (or should be) for animals, placing animal welfare at the centre of their operations.
Order here, or through most online booksellers:
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-a...
Reposted by Simon Fitzpatrick
"Older animals perform vital roles in populations and ecosystems," writes @kellerfish.bsky.social, but "the value of old, wise animals is not usually considered when we manage animal populations and seek to protect biodiversity." theconversation.com/humans-are-k...
November 22, 2024 at 2:02 PM
"Older animals perform vital roles in populations and ecosystems," writes @kellerfish.bsky.social, but "the value of old, wise animals is not usually considered when we manage animal populations and seek to protect biodiversity." theconversation.com/humans-are-k...