Humans are Animals; Every day the gap gets narrower
When I was a child (forever ago), there were a number of fallacies purveyed regarding animals, most of which have been proven completely false:
- Animals can't reason (false)
- Humans are the only animals that kill/murder each other (false)
- Animals can't talk (false)
- Animals can't count (false)
- Animals don't have emotions (false)
on and on...
Of course the animals don't have souls argument, but that is irellevant, since no one knows if humans do either.
Arguably, these false assertions were motivated to "elevate" humans, perhaps sometimes to justify human uses for animals such as food.
However, every day tests are conducted demonstrating that animals have practically every cognitive capability humans have, generally to a lesser degree.
Not being a an expert in this field myself, the one area I recall that has not been shown in animals is "episodic memory", the specific recall of previous events. It is distinguished from learned behavior, which is the integral of prior events. I suspect this will be established in animals eventually as well.
I assert no change in our general behavior towards animals as a conclusion, but that our arrogance should be dropped yet another peg.
- Animals can't reason (false)
- Humans are the only animals that kill/murder each other (false)
- Animals can't talk (false)
- Animals can't count (false)
- Animals don't have emotions (false)
on and on...
Of course the animals don't have souls argument, but that is irellevant, since no one knows if humans do either.
Arguably, these false assertions were motivated to "elevate" humans, perhaps sometimes to justify human uses for animals such as food.
However, every day tests are conducted demonstrating that animals have practically every cognitive capability humans have, generally to a lesser degree.
Not being a an expert in this field myself, the one area I recall that has not been shown in animals is "episodic memory", the specific recall of previous events. It is distinguished from learned behavior, which is the integral of prior events. I suspect this will be established in animals eventually as well.
I assert no change in our general behavior towards animals as a conclusion, but that our arrogance should be dropped yet another peg.
Previous comments... You are currently on page 4.
I am arguing that man is not really different.
But seriously and forgive me, the work I read millions of years ago has no link in today's internet because it was pre-internet; I read that it was speculated that animals have a picture brain and along with the other senses is how they deal with their environment on a day to day basis.
It was as good or lacking as the article you have posted here.
As far a memory is concerned, the Maltese puppies that we raise, seem to remember my wife and I no matter how long they are away from home...of course...who could forget my ugly face...I don't call myself: OlduglyCarl for no reason.
PS...if animals could do all those things you and the article espouses then maybe we should elect them to our government instead of parasitical humanoidal liberal progressive criminals. By weight and measure, a raccoon would be more honest and less trouble that what we have there now...
Unless the mice are conducting a test to determine 42 is the answer to the universal question to everything there is no serious comparison between man and animals when it comes to adaptability and dominance. We all may be made of the same stuff and share some common abilities but that, I think, is end of the comparison.
You don't think that is a positive trait, do you? By the "subjugation" humankind did more harm than good. I am sure you have come across many examples, history is full of them.
You did not touch upon human subjugation of humans? That certainly is a huge difference that animals will never do.
Looting or Value for value that is a great analogy !