Though animals can 'choose', unlike humans, they are not able to understand they have done so, or that they can do so. Why is that?
2006-08-14 07:15:00 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Their state of consciousness isn't as developed and they appear to lack Self-awareness.
2006-08-14 07:24:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Animals choose all the time, making their choices based on a scale not unlike Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs--absence of pain, need for security, pleasure and food. Dogs choose to love the person who feeds them; cats choose when you will touch them. Mice can be trained to choose something that doesn't give them pain, or that gives them a reward. They select mates from a myriad of criteria--and choose to fight for those mates at times. I think they comprehend that they are choosing. Their lives are better because of choice; they just don't hold onto the moment taht they chose, reliving it, thinking about the other option. In other words, animals don't have regret. That's really your question, I think.
2006-08-14 14:26:12 · answer #2 · answered by JStueart 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of humans I know can't comprehend choice either, and I am unable to choose whether or not to accept your assumption.
2006-08-15 00:34:39 · answer #3 · answered by Tuna-San 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't agree with the premise of your question - I think animals understand the concept of choice as well as humans. It's just a little harder to talk to most animals than it is to most humans.
2006-08-14 14:21:04 · answer #4 · answered by Steve 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My Tonkanese understands choice.
We've caught him on the kitchen counter, and he looks, sinks low and gives a cute but pathetic 'meow' ... then jumps off. Or, if he's about to jump on the counter and someone says his name, again, he'll drop low to the ground, give a cute, but pathetic "meow" --- back away and then come hug us.
When he wanted up there to see outside, he'll give three 'meow's' and then we'll carry his spoiled furry butt to the window, and he looks till his heart is content.
He comprehends choice, and how to get what he wants with limited choices.
2006-08-14 15:22:10 · answer #5 · answered by Giggly Giraffe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Animals don't have an "integrated consciousness" the way that we do.
Religious people will say that animals did not eat the Fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
2006-08-14 14:21:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they don't have the intelligence to understand the concept. Animals function off instinct. Our ability to "chose" separates us from them.
2006-08-14 14:20:41 · answer #7 · answered by *Cara* 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Truly you cannot say that, for not only scientifically, but also morally, we are just as much animals as the lot that you describe.
2006-08-14 16:20:24 · answer #8 · answered by Christina 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they do, but they cannot comprehend 'effect' of the choice
2006-08-14 14:34:17 · answer #9 · answered by shoot1score2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how do we know that they do not understand that they have made a choice?
2006-08-14 19:04:19 · answer #10 · answered by student_of_life 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋