Dignifying the Nonhuman: A Critical Reconstruction of Behavioral Ecology Through Animal Dignification

Abstract This article introduces animal dignification as an ethical-philosophical lens to expand the interpretation of animal behavior in behavioral ecology. While the adaptationist framework has provided key insights into evolutionary function, it often neglects affective, cognitive, and relational dimensions of animal life. Drawing from evolutionary biology, ethology, and animal ethics, we propose a complementary perspective that views animals as sentient subjects with intrinsic value. Through conceptual analysis and illustrative case studies, we demonstrate how a dignification-centered approach enhances scientific inquiry and promotes ethical reflexivity, aligning behavioral research with a broader sense of moral responsibility toward nonhuman lives.