Some nonhuman animals can have pains in a morally relevant sense

In a series of works, Peter Carruthers has argued for the denial of the title proposition. Here, I defend that proposition by offering direct support drawn from relevant sciences and by undercutting Carruthers' argument. In doing the latter, I distinguish an intrinsic theory of consciousness from Carruthers' relational theory of consciousness. This relational theory has two readings, one of which makes essential appeal to evolutionary theory. I argue that neither reading offers a successful view.