How aware do you think animals are?

[freekid2002]

bump

[OPISAPHA]

Women have a slightly higher level of self awareness than cats.

[bellanor]

Women have a slightly higher level of self awareness than cats.

Womanz brains r smart

[jthm]

Does OP realize that people are animals?

[bellanor]

Does OP realize that people are animals?

OP does, but u get my gist.
First 2 point it out btw

Edit: wonder what replies would have been if I had listed all species tho

[GeneralSerpant]

OP does, should have specified mammals, but u get my gist.
First 2 point it out btw

Humans, dogs, and cats are mammals.

[bellanor]

Humans, dogs, and cats are mammals.

ffs lol, the misc was right. Brb changing op, this thread is about consciousness in general now.

[OPISAPHA]

Womanz brains r smart

agree to disagree

[GeneralSerpant]

ffs lol, the misc was right. Brb changing op, this thread is about consciousness in general now.

Well, what about little kids? Think about playing on a playground without thinking of science and stuff.

Plus, if a person was by themselves for a long time with no reason to communicate with other people, they would start to go feral. Not the same thing, but you start moving back to that direction.

[jthm]

Animal conciousness/awareness, to what level? Like humans as being really self aware, and animals mainly instinctual.
I know the science on conciousness in general is limited, but what have you noticed in pets that seem like conscious thoughts?


Dogs seem to have a legit sense of humour. I have even seen a cat sperm on itself while lazily laying down.

Serious thread.

Im not quite sure what youre asking, but you sound delusional. You might want to do a look up on the term Anthropomorphism

[bellanor]

Well, what about little kids? Think about playing on a playground without thinking of science and stuff.

I have no idea- like without thinking of it in terms of metaphysics because that messes it all up. I think it is incredibly ambiguous, know little about the science of it, so maybe that is why. With kids it seems like mind and matter aren't as close as for people that are older? Like sensory differences? No idea really.

[bellanor]

Im not quite sure what youre asking, but you sound delusional. You might want to do a look up on the term Anthropomorphism

Yeah, but only seemingly. I get that the semantics of that are off, but not sure how to explain it, is kind of what I made the thread to start with<-- was hoping someone could explain.

[jthm]

Yeah, but only seemingly. I get that the semantics of that are off, but not sure how to explain it, is kind of what I made the thread to start with<-- was hoping someone could explain.

LOL, jeeze. Youre retarded.

[GeneralSerpant]

I have no idea- like without thinking of it in terms of metaphysics because that messes it all up. I think it is incredibly ambiguous, no little about the science of it, so maybe that is why. With kids it seems like mind and matter aren't as close as for people that are older? Like sensory differences? No idea really.

Well, they play games and stuff with each other, but stuff like tag is really basic and they wouldn't really need to communicate with each other like people do. Communication is a big part of it obviously. They're also more subject to emotions and arguments.

Dogs/cats have to move around on four legs. Cats also tend to use their claws for a lot of stuff and bury their **** when they go to the bathroom. I'm sorry to get technical, but evolution has to do with a lot of that.

[OPISAPHA]

LOL, jeeze. Youre retarded.

-> says "semantics" to seem smart
-> can't articulate ideas for ****

[bellanor]

LOL, jeeze. Youre retarded.

Would appreciate you sharing your wisdom, not kidding.

-> says "semantics" to seem smart
-> can't articulate ideas for ****

Come on... that is a bit rough. I have a post graduate degree, but know nothing about this topic, is a genuine thread.

[GeneralSerpant]

Also, another thing about communication is that they don't bark/meow to communicate, they do it as signs of basic emotional expression, like if they're overtly excited or sad in general.

[jthm]

Would appreciate you sharing your wisdom, not kidding.

Dont think it would get through to you, sorry.

[DoctorHitch]

Would appreciate you sharing your wisdom, not kidding.

Come on... that is a bit rough. I have a post graduate degree, but know nothing about this topic, is a genuine thread.

Every living organism on this planet has a certain type of consciousness, let's say these insect eating plants have 1 type of consciousness, that they can feel when a insect is on them, as reflex they trap them. Then insects have multiple of them, they can smell, feel, look etc, they can't really think though like humans can. Then let's say a dog has even more of them, they can also feel emotions, read people faces and body language etc. Then humans have just a little more than the other animals that makes us human. We can predict the future, we can plan, we can build stuff etc.
We have just a more complex type of consciousness than most other animals have. They will know they are there but in a much other way than we do.
You get it?

[breezyo]

crows are one of the smartest animals

[Efilon]

i think all animal have conscious mind my dog always looks in the mirror, mirin his aesthetics

Stats of dog

[GeneralSerpant]

crows are one of the smartest animals

They drop acorns in the road for cars to run over and crack the shells.

[OPISAPHA]

Come on... that is a bit rough. I have a post graduate degree, but know nothing about this topic, is a genuine thread.

ok. for a real answer to this question we need to turn to science instead of philosophy, and the science is inconclusive. Here are a couple of related sources

"Self-awareness can be difficult to prove, and thus far scientists have only been able to say with certainty that we humans possess the ability. Studies on other animals, however, such as bottlenose dolphins, magpies and elephants, indicate they are cognizant of their own thinking too."
http://news.discovery.com/animals/ma...re-animals.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_..._pass_the_test (hint: they were all just mentioned in the last source. There's no evidence that cats or dogs even recognize themselves in a mirror)



But me being the charming sexist that I am, and you being a woman, I'm guessing that you weren't looking for a logical or scientific answer.

[bellanor]

Well, they play games and stuff with each other, but stuff like tag is really basic and they wouldn't really need to communicate with each other like people do. Communication is a big part of it obviously. They're also more subject to emotions and arguments.

Dogs/cats have to move around on four legs. Cats also tend to use their claws for a lot of stuff and bury their **** when they go to the bathroom. I'm sorry to get technical, but evolution has to do with a lot of that.

Also, another thing about communication is that they don't bark/meow to communicate, they do it as signs of basic emotional expression, like if they're overtly excited or sad in general.

Big gap between humans and others. Some do seem exceptional though, compared to others, but I don't know, am not even sure of the ways consciousness is defined. The more stances of it the more perplexing. Had a look at a few articles, the science is way over my head, but it seems like there is a lot unknown, even with humans alone.

[bellanor]

ok. for a real answer to this question we need to turn to science instead of philosophy, and the science is inconclusive. Here are a couple of related sources

"Self-awareness can be difficult to prove, and thus far scientists have only been able to say with certainty that we humans possess the ability. Studies on other animals, however, such as bottlenose dolphins, magpies and elephants, indicate they are cognizant of their own thinking too."
http://news.discovery.com/animals/ma...re-animals.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_..._pass_the_test (hint: they were all just mentioned in the last source. There's no evidence that cats or dogs even recognize themselves in a mirror)



But me being the charming sexist that I am, and you being a woman, I'm guessing that you weren't looking for a logical or scientific answer.

lol. I was actually thinking this, because when I was trying to read about it lots came up about how limited science is on human brains and conflicting studies. I will try to push my tiny brain through your sources without getting emotional over the pictures on the page. Thank you

[Tyrannosaur88]

If there is one thing that sets humans apart from other animals it is our spatial perception. Think about it- not a single other species on this planet recognises that it is just a small part of a larger and almost endless universe. No other animal understands that there are billions upon billions of other planets and galaxies out there with distances so vast between us and lengths of time so long that it makes our day to day lives seem totally insignificant. To them the night sky is just as static as a blank wall. Likewise, no other species on earth realizes what is at the other end of the scale either- that we are all made up of atoms and molecules so complex and yet so small that we need an electron microscopes just to see them. Every animal on the planet apart from us only understands it's own little everyday world and nothing else. That separates us from them imo.

[RealAesthetic]

I guess I'll just jerk off

[LeonBest]

nice post (your username must be relevant)

in b4 37 pages.

but yeah, animals are self aware and they know whats going on. the only difference between us and them is the depth of their problem solving skills and over all complexity of thought.

i.e. a dog trying to figure out how a car operates is like us trying to figure out the mysteries of the universe. Our minds just cant wrap around it.

[2am]

I asked my dog if he was aware and he whispered back in a single breath "mirin ******* negged"

[bellanor]

I asked my dog if he was aware and he whispered back in a single breath "mirin ******* negged"

I would have pushed you into that water last night 2am.