Do animals think that cars are also animals?

Answer 1

In a sense they do. Are we talking wild or domesticated? Wild animals have no concept of machines or constructed objects. Because of this animals are bound to think of anthing moving, such as a car, as some sort of 'animal' in the sense that it is a moving creature. But most animals have a very accute sense of smell so they would be able to identify that this 'animal' is a very strange one indeed. On the other hand when a car is stopped they would probably think of the car as some sort of strange rock.

It's hard to imagine yourself in their shoes, living in a world without any knowledge of civilization and then to suddenly see a car. You wouldn't know what to make of it, but it must be some sort of living thing because it is moving. But what a strange smelling creature it is...

But domesticated animals are a completely different thing. I would be pretty sure they know that it's not an animal. I mean they ride in it! They can recognize it as a type of transport object.

Answer 2

My dogs recognize and show intense interest in other dogs even though they are a parking lot and a street removed. Cats instantly take notice of the dog when I get near while walking a dog.

I have a small dog I just started walking outside for the first time ever recently. He ignores cars, but people and other animals make him freeze and stop completely.

Perhaps this tells us something.

Other dogs that have ridden in cars, know that they want to go for a ride whenever they think there is an opportunity.

Of course, we can only try to read their externally expressed emotions and thoughts.

Answer 3

Animals think cars are vehicles, but they do not conceptualize "vehicle" as a semanteme, neither would they have conceptualized a verbal definition of the meaning.

I have heard a story of a cat using the telephone to call 911. My first cat used to recognize my truck and come running proudly when he saw me comming home in my truck. And sometimes I used to call my second cat on the phone, he would always listen but he wouldn't respond.

Vehicles are just a different thing to them. A bever can know a river as a vehicle in a sense, but again not knowing this semantically.

When a human points to a tree and says "tree" this implies that there are other things with which we could point and say "not tree"; therefore the ability to name (weather bound forms or free forms) is the capacity for all language. This theory has not been common among philosophers as far as I can tell.

Answer 4

it depends on the animal and the area in which it lives.
cars have been around for a long time now and as much as animals cannot reason like humans they are aware of certain characteristics.
eg; animals in large cities(pigeons,rats,cats and dogs) that have been around cars for a long time have adapted to the looks,sounds and smells of the car and also the cars basic movements.
so they know when a car is running or not.
they also probably know that cars are accompanied by humans(which they fear)
more often than not, wild life in game parks will ignore stationary cars(or even motion less but running cars) because they have grown accustom to them

to end, i dont think that animals see cars as other animals, but more as a danger or threat,eg rolling boulder or a falling tree, dangerous when moving but useless when stationary

Answer 5

Wild animals its quite possible that they do,they have no concept of construction or building and so it is plausable to believe that they think things to be one of three things,object (a rock),animal(...animal) or animate object(trees in the wind,water) and as the car or vehicle moves as if it has a purpose and makes load noices when it moves then yeah proble wild animaces think cars are animals

BUT.. domisticated animals are well,domestticated they have more concept of construction and so its is plausable to belive that things are on of 4 things,inanimate object(rock),animal(animal...),animate object(gates blowing shut or sprinklers) And tools.Tools are things such as cars or balls.
Ever noticed that when not moving animals just ignore cars,but open the door and the majority of dogs will understand that if they get in there going to go for a walk.BUT if you have the same dog near a horse they often kick up a fuss.

OR they could simply believe that cars are a funny sort of animal that a human somehow maanipulates to run very fast and chase other cars untill they stop and sleep for a bit.

Answer 6

Animals don't think in the sense that we do; they just experience and react as per their biological programming. So, if they are programmed to run from big things that are yellow with black stripes, that is what they will do, be it a living or a manufactured thing. This program is being constantly updated and enhanced; experience can 'teach' that pink is dangerous too, so they will come to fear that also. Similarly, we (perhaps, life too) can de-program them to accept certain things (which might then get them killed in their natural habitat). They do not think and make decisions as such.
Now, if you had a dog brought up by a 'family' of remote control cars; mmmmm? It would probably regard them as living things and consider itself one of their pack.

Answer 7

The unintentional but telling feature of your question is a pluralization of thinking. There are no examples in nature of animals demonstrating the theoretical faculty. In fact, man overcomes his animality by individual assertion, a wanting of distinction from the herd. While an object may be perceived by any sentient being, thought tentatively begins when it folds back upon its "I am" and asserts "they [plural] are [so and so - the theory]".

Answer 8

Animals are probably smarter than humans in that regard in that they have no need to distinguish "animal" or "machine". It's irrelevant. Cars are certainly animate. They move.

Ever notice how animals magically know when it's time to sleep under a car, and when it's time to run away?

It's almost impossible to run over a bird. You have to do it intentionally or the bird is already injured.

I would say that (non-human) animals are smarter than humans in that regard, despite the amount of roadkill I see.

Answer 9

Animals do have instincts but they probably don't know it is a car. Otherwise a very recent news is the kangaroo who crossed during a car race. Had the kangaroo knew it was a car, the former may not force to run across. Luckily, the kangaroo safely crossed the race track. It was probably men knew they have to get rid of the animal using their instincts too. Humans are rationale animal as compared to lower form of animals.

Interesting question. Have a great day!

Answer 10

Thats an interesting question but I reckon animals dont think cars are also animals. Don't ask me why I think this, I just do!!