"Is a Dolphin a Person?" By Mary Midgley

Midgley explains the question of personhood and addresses the question of whether dolphins might consider as a person. She argues that what makes animals our fellow beings entitled to basic thought is not intellectual ability, but emotional companionship. She states both apes and dolphins share this special kind of social and emotional complexity. She explains that the uniqueness of these animals further supports their ethical consideration in that they are extremely aware of social beings. She argues that emotionality can give out as a more helpful indicator for personhood as one cannot            be practically disconnect from the other. She claims that emotional bonds differentiate             humans and animals from machines.