Helmut Segner Fish Nociception and pain A biological perspective

Preface
In spring 2010, the Federal Ethics Committee on Non-Human
Bio technology (ECNH; Eidgenössische Ethikkommission für die
Biotechnologie im Ausserhumanbereich, EKAH) commissioned
two studies on pain perception and consciousness in fish. Both
studies were intended to critically review the recent literature on
cognitive abilities of fish and their capability to feel pain. These
questions can be approached both from a biological perspective
and from a philosophical perspective, as the issues of consciousness
and cognition are not only a matter of biological facts – which
fall within the competence of life sciences – but also a matter of
notions and terms, which are within the competence of philosophy.
Therefore, two studies were done in parallel, with one report
written by a biologist (Helmut Segner), and one written by a philosopher
(Markus Wild).
The two reports can be read independently of each other; however,
they are complementary in many aspects. While, for instance,
Markus Wild’s report touches only shortly on the neurological ​
basis of pain perception in man and fish, Helmut Segner’s report
places great emphasis on this aspect. In contrast, while Segner’s
report provides little detail on the terminology and notion of
conscious ness, Wild presents a systematic and in-depth discussion
of this aspect.
We investigated the same topic from different perspectives.
Despite our differences in background, methodological approach,
focus, argumentation and assessments, we converge and agree in
the two major results of our studies: First, we are both convinced
that a new picture of the cognitive capabilities of fish has been
emerging over recent years. Fish should no longer be considered
simple-minded, inflexible “reflex machines”, but there is increasing
awareness of their surprisingly complex cognitive competences.
This picture is developing only now, and we are still in an early
Fish. Nociception and pain | Contributions to Ethics and Biotechnology 7