Do you believe *remorse* exists beyond humanity?

Question

Did a praying mantis ever bite off the head of her mate, and then return it the next day, with profuse apologies?

Hmmm…

Doug and Param had the best “serious” answers.

Third P and Jess had most interesting rationalizations.

As for the stories, I have no idea how I can be expected to choose between granola-fetching dogs and a squirrel lament. LOL!

But I don’t like putting questions to vote, so I’m simply going to avoid the responsibility of choosing by utilizing the highest “thumb count.”

Thanks everyone! :-)

Answer 1

Well, all the ET's that I know can technically be labeled psychopaths due to their Universal fearlessness and inability to feel remorse. They are also not big on having fun and throwing wild galactic parties - go figure! … Then again, they don't seem to exhibit violent temper tantrums and goof up as often as humanity does, either.

On the other end of the spectrum, I believe the animals - at least some of them - are quite capable of feeling guilt and remorse. Take my lil’ dog, for example: Every time he makes a mess of the house or does something that he "KNOWS" he shouldn't have, and I rhetorically ask him if he was the responsible party, he goes through his lil’ routine. First he starts giving me his dumbfounded cute look, as if to say: Look at me I'm so cute how could you possibly accuse me of something like that? It really was the neighbor’s cat - I'm truly innocent, besides you promised to always love me and never get mad at me. … And when that lil’ trick doesn't work he goes and sits in a corner looking all pensive and sad (pouting, of course). Finally, when that lil’ number doesn't work either, he runs to the kitchen, jumps on the chair, gets on top of the kitchen counter, grabs my favorite Granola Bar, rushes it back to me, and gently drops it on my lap (and I am NOT kidding you either). Now, some may claim that’s just pure bribery – Oh, but I know better. ;-)
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Answer 2

Zoologicaly speaking, although a praying mantis maybe in an act of giving thanks, adoring or pretending to ask for an answer on its petition to a divine power. However, this is the position where they catch and hold their prey with their powerful legs. Assuming, it does bite off the head of its mate. The headless mate may no longer gain its head even with a profuse apologies. Its mate remains beheaded for they have no magical power to do such. It could only happen in a cartoon movie.

Going back to your main question, philosophically speaking,
i may say remorse may do exist beyond humanity. Animals with higher intelligence may have this behaviour to their own animal family . Chimpanzees may have able to show this behaviour as much as they can even learn limited human vocabulary in sign language. Although may not be able to communicate this verbally but through its action it is very possible.

Thanks for asking. Have a great day!

Answer 3

I don't know if it exists in the insect world but, I'm certain it exists with many animals. Dogs cower or tuck their tails if they are caught doing something wrong. Horses come to their riders if the rider falls by no fault of the horse. Certain apes have been noted to carry their dead away from the midst of a battle. These are just three examples of remorse in other species and I'm certain there are many more. Yes, I think remorse indeed exists beyond humanity. I'll bet you loved the movie "Dr. Dolittle" with Rex Harrison.

Answer 4

There are many "dog and cat" stories where I've had NO doubt about emotional actions & reactions. But now I've discovered it extends beyond our domestic companions,

Lately there have been some "squirrel happenings" in my world. This summer, my balcony garden was visited by I believe, the same black squirrel who seemed to enjoy digging through my plants. One early morning, while sitting there quietly, I heard a rustle in the big ole' maple tree and then a thud as my little black visitor landed about 2 feet away from me. We made and sustained eye contact for several minutes, and so I spoke, all the while fixed in his stare. I mentioned gently but firmly (in English, not "squirrel") that cute as he was, my plants were off-limits! I'd like to mention here and now that this is my very first "squirrel conversation", and not a habit of mine.

A month went by and the plants were left alone. Then.... the very day after spraining my foot and being a lot less mobile, I heard a tapping at the window overlooking the balcony. :-) Crawling over, I looked out and my glance was met full on by the now familiar squirrel looking directly at me - eye to eye. He stared for at least 30 seconds, then turned and leaped onto the balcony railing, landing in every single plant along the perimeter. No remorse, but certainly some sort of connection - how the #*^^ did he know it was "safe" to taunt me?

Then just this week, I was talking with a co-worker who said she had an odd story (my own story not known to her). Anyway, she began by telling me that while driving to her son's school, she saw a squirrel in the road - hit by a car, lying on it's back with it's tiny legs in the air. It was clearly dead. On her return home, with her son now in the car, she noted that the squirrel was still there, when her son pointed to the side of the road. There, in a line and sitting very still, were 4 young squirrels looking on at the one on the roadway. Her son said they were "mourners" and she the said to me that she thought these smaller ones must have been sitting vigil for what she thought was likely their mother. We both remarked at how sad this was.

Perhaps at times we "personify" nature and animals more than is warranted, but if you ask me I'd say that remorse, as well as other emotional characteristics are every bit as evident in other living and breathing life.

Feelings are not the exclusive domain of humanity.

Answer 5

remorse has a deeper meaning than sorry or regret.
a dog is sorry to see its master angry with him.
a man regrets cheating on his wife when the matter is in the open.
remorse has a religious significance.
a sinner suffers from remorse after committing a sin.
this remorse will make him redeem his ways and reach God.
i believe the creature that will bite its head with remorse is Satan on the Day of Judgement.
it will be too late for him to redeem his pride and his dark deeds.
hell will be his lasting abode.

Answer 6

We have any number of stories about animals having emotions but the insects? I don't think they have brains or wherever emotions pile up.

In Indian mythology, we have stories of snakes especially cobras, coming back to take revenge on any human who happened to kill its mate. The loyalty of dogs, horses, cows etc. or even some birds is unquestioned. So it can be surmised that animals have emotions but they have to be trained(read domesticated) first. Wild ones know only lust and fight for territories...

Wish some scientists would do extensive research on remorse factor!!!

Answer 7

No, I don't think it exists because of the memory involved. Animals have a kind of consciousness: they feel pain, they know how to relate to each other etc., but their memory is very physical (they remember bodily harm). On the other hand humans have a memory for psychological occurrences therefore they can feel remorse.

Answer 8

Remorse does not exist beyond humanity. Why? When humans commit a wrong, they say, oh ****, i cant believe i did that! how will this person ever forgive me? when an animal commits a wrong, it says, oh ****, i cant believe i did that! Oh well. I did a horrible thing to this thing, and i will forgive myself, this other thing will forgive me, and Karma will make it right. also, animals do not experience resentment hate,scorn, etc. they are usually members of an oversoul, and therefor experience very few emotions aside from absolute love.

Answer 9

It's difficult to imagine 'remorse' in a creature which lacks the sense of time (and the passage of our consciousness thru it) and the sense of causality that we have being able to feel remorse. But htere are documented cases of 'remorse like' behavior among some of the higher primates.

Doug

Answer 10

You know what, I think you have a point. Animals may learn a lesson when they make a mistake, but I think remorse, as a specific reaction, is strictly human.

(*ponders existance and stares into space*)