Are animals rational? Can they think and experience emotions? Or are they responding to instinct (and training) that makes their actions look like rational actions? When a dog growls, is he expressing anger or a reflex instinct? When a cat snuggles up to its master, is it expressing love or a reflex (or learned) instinct?
2006-07-26 10:02:35 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Well, who's to say that our emotions are not animal-like? What I'm getting at is emotions are emotions, be it in an animal or a human. I have seen dogs and cats cry. I can see emotional pain in their eyes and their actions. I currently have two cats. Yes, I know they love me. I know they miss me. I know I love and miss them. So, is human love or animal love different or the same? Love is love...it's a feeling. Hate is a feeling. Sadness is a feeling. I have never met a person or animal who did not have at least some kind of feeling.
So to answer your question, I don't think anybody can "prove" that an animal's emotions or a human's emotions are different. I don't think you can actually clinically prove the what the components of love are. It's just there. I have to go now...my cats are calling for me. They like to watch AMERICAN IDOL and they can't find the remote...
2006-07-26 12:13:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think animals have the complex emotions that adults have, they can be very much like 2 year olds, they understand pain, friendlyness, fear, fun and those kinds of things. The only thing I think they have proven is that some animals laugh when they are happy, like rats and dogs.
2006-07-26 18:01:46 · answer #2 · answered by Lady 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has been proven but some people disregard this and refuse to believe it. It was proved around the late 1800's or early 1900's by a scientist but people still try to contradic his research.
2006-07-26 17:19:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has been proven and disproven...depends on what study you look at but most vets agree that animals can become depressed, or nervous and offer various treatments for such ailments...so I guess it depends on what you beleive...the other person was right though...it would be nearly impossible to prove or disprove because they can't tell us!!
2006-07-26 17:19:09 · answer #4 · answered by pinkslippers00 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
according to a magazine that i read a few yrs ago... one scientist did some research on pets n find out that they DO have feelings.... i dont remember the name of the magazine... but if u have access to a library, u can go n look in their electronic database lexis naxis, n u would find it there.
2006-07-26 17:30:21 · answer #5 · answered by yoghurtlight 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be amazingly difficult to prove or disprove if animals have emotions.
2006-07-26 17:06:24 · answer #6 · answered by telefantastical 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋