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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 25, 2026

Defining the Role Of Language in Infants' Object Categorization with Eye-tracking Paradigms

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Published on: February 8, 2019

Naming the Ethological Subject.

Etienne S Benson¹

¹University of PennsylvaniaE-mail:ebenson@sas.upenn.edu.

Science in Context

|February 24, 2016

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Naming research animals, popularized by Jane Goodall, is linked to animal personhood. However, historical use shows names served practical purposes, with limits on recognizing animal rights.

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Area of Science:

Ethology and Animal Studies
History of Science
Animal Ethics

Background:

The practice of naming nonhuman animals in scientific research has become intertwined with concepts of animal personhood and objectivity.
Critics associate naming with anthropomorphism, while supporters argue it enhances recognition of individual differences and social relations.

Observation:

Historical analysis reveals that naming research animals since the late 19th century served diverse functions beyond ethical considerations.
These functions included identification for dual roles (pets, workers, patients), market value enhancement, and field identification.

Findings:

The use of personal names by researchers like Jane Goodall is not as unprecedented as it may seem, building on historical practices.
The historical application of names demonstrates a variety of purposes, many of which did not raise significant ethical or epistemological concerns.

Implications:

The widespread use of personal names to signify individuality, sentience, or rights in nonhuman animals faces inherent limitations and contradictions.
Understanding the multifaceted history of naming research animals provides a nuanced perspective on current debates in animal ethics and scientific practice.