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Originally Posted by Leinator
I'm sure the animal welfare institute isn't biased at all, but it's always good to be on the safe side.  |
Haha
. Very true.
I posted it mainly as you seemed quite biased on the matter and that it might be good to see from the other side's point of view, even if they might hold some bias too.
You are quite right in saying it's a controversial and touchy matter, both sides of the debate hold valid points - it isn't just black and white, there are many shades of grey to be found here.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Leinator
They aren't machines, but they also aren't "self-aware." They aren't individualistic, they don't create, and they don't practice rational thought through language.
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I think you might be getting more into the realm of 'I think, therefore I am' type philosophy here. We think in our various languages, animals don't have these types of language so therefore they don't think like us? Of course they don't, I posted a link earlier to a site
made by a guy with autism. He described the way his mind works as totally different to a normal person, thinking more in pictures and visual representations than language. Who's to say animals don't think in a similar way?
Here's some good Scientific American articles on the topic (or roundabout
):
Darwin at the Zoo: Scientific American
Understanding Violence: Scientific American
Apes may lead to origin of language: researchers: Scientific American
It's Not What Chimps Say, It's What They Gesture: Scientific American
Why Are Some Animals So Smart? -- [ INTELLIGENCE AND EVOLUTION ]: Scientific American
Studies Show Chimps to Be Collaborative and Altruistic: Scientific American
Chimps Found to Conform to Cultural Norms: Scientific American
Primates Protest: Unfair!: Scientific American
Orangutan Technology: Scientific American
Crafty Crow Rivals Primates in Toolmaking: Scientific American