Citation
Eilam, David (2017) Animals do not commit suicide but do display behaviors that are precursors of suicide in humans. Animal Sentience 20(7)
Commentary Type
Invited Commentary
Thread
David M. Peña-Guzmán, Can nonhuman animals commit suicide?
Abstract
Although my commentary begins with a report about a monkey committing suicide, I agree with the target article's concluding statement that we cannot currently prove that any animal has committed suicide. The author’s proposed continuist approach is based on animal behaviors reminiscent of symptoms preceding suicide in humans (e.g., deep depression and grief). However, in both humans and nonhuman animals, these are just potential precursors of suicide, and dying as a result of grief is not necessarily suicide. In the absence of supporting evidence, the continuist hypothesis of animal suicide is not sustained.
DOI
10.51291/2377-7478.1292
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