Is consciousness a useful scientific term? Problems of "animal consciousness"

Application of the normal procedures of scientific hypothesis testing to th e question of animal consciousness is flawed, since it presupposes that con sciousness land more especially, its lack) can be reliably identified. Cogn itive psychology has made little explanatory use of the concept of consciou sness, and comparative psychology has no safe means of pursuing its evoluti on. It is proposed that the vexed issue of consciousness in animals Is not linked to their welfare, which should instead be decided by objective ethoi ogical evidence, backed by firm presumptions of "conscious until proven oth erwise".