2006-09-01 05:30:16 · 16 answers · asked by Tomas B 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
They do. They have dreams. They have feelings. They solve problems. They entertain themselves and us. Not all of it is about instinct and survival. If you ever had a cat that tried to cheer you up when you were sick or a dog or a parrot with a sense of humor, you would know this is true.
2006-09-01 05:51:40 · answer #1 · answered by Zelda Hunter 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most definitely. Their intelligence and thinking capacity varies greatly from animal to animal. Scientists have devised several tests for animals to observe problem solving capabilities. If you do a search you should find out more about those experiments. In fact, there was an hour long special on the Discovery channel some time ago.
2006-09-01 14:28:28 · answer #2 · answered by Shaun 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Seems like there is a famous experiment where a monkey invents or discovers a way to get a banna into its cell using a stick.
The bird "english titmouse" learned to get the paper cap off old fashioned milk bottles left outside by the deliverers. Then they apparently gossiped about it, because all of a sudden, many birds were doing the same thing.
2006-09-01 16:23:36 · answer #3 · answered by Ren Hoek 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not the same way as humans do, they are definitely not capable of complex or abstract thought, but cats, for example, are able to figure out basic cause and effect ("if I meow at the Human, she will feed me") and can learn from positive reinforcement. So there is some thinking going on.
2006-09-01 15:52:23 · answer #4 · answered by Isis-sama 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Humans think mostly in words which other animals can't do with very few minor exceptions. The symbollic thinking has huge advantages in thought processes in my opinion, yet I still think that my cat can easily figure out a way to get me to open the door for him, or whatever other whim strikes his fancy.
2006-09-01 16:41:54 · answer #5 · answered by JimZ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The thinking capacity of animals vary, depending on the kind and its adaptation to the nature.e.g.A dog has a higher thinking capacity than a Warthog.
2006-09-01 12:37:25 · answer #6 · answered by victor o 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
2006-09-01 12:37:53 · answer #7 · answered by _scientist 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
2006-09-01 12:34:23 · answer #8 · answered by X-Woman 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They dream, they react, they manipulate. I am not sure if they contemplate and weigh options, but they have many brain functions that are not just instinctual.
2006-09-01 12:33:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If the answer was no we couldn't answer this question. Humans are animals.
2006-09-01 17:38:04 · answer #10 · answered by jonesmarty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋