Do you think animals have a a way of thinking... Or is everything instinct?

Answer 1

We should stop considering people so much different than animals. Human and animal functions are very similar. Of course the human brain is much more complex, but so is that of some animals, like dolphins, elephants, chimps, etc. The fact that they are less "clever" doesn't mean they don't think. They think, they have feelings that they are conscious of, and sometimes their cunningness has nothing to do with instinct, because they learn to do things they would never face in nature (for example, my cat turns on the light switch to wake me up when he needs food. From instinct, he would hunt, he wouldn't wake mummy up!).

Answer 2

Yes they do.They have a different way of thinking than us,since in nature they're only goal is to survive by finding food and avoiding danger and predators.But they do think situations through,they calculate things to see if they are going to get what they want and they dream.Living close to humans some animals develop another kind of thinking,more similar to the one humans have,especially if they were growing up close to humans.

One shouldn't;t confuse the memory of an animal with thinking.Just because an animal remembers some humans or situations doesn't mean that they remember every little detail for the rest of their lives.Animals have a memory that works through stimulation.If they had a bad experience they remember it when they hear or smell something that was the same in that previous experience.The same goes with humans,they remember our scent,that's how you can explain how an animal remembers someone they haven;t seen in a long time...Also explains the fear when they go to a vet,or the fear of specific types of humans(men,foreigners etc)

Answer 3

I think left on their own, animals react using instinct. However, I think that training engages their brain into thinking. I work with horses mostly, and have seen the changes in many horses when you literally teach them to think for themselves. You can see their eyes focus on their thought as they try to make the correct decision. If you work at it, and teach them appropriately, horses can be very good "problem solvers", and their reactions to each situation can be based on a conscious effort of thought.

Not so sure on dogs, though.

Answer 4

Animals totally think! they may not think the same way as people but they think. how do you explain it when dogs go into burning buildings to rescue their families. Running twords a fire goes against every instinct in and animals body, but the do it anyway, because they know we love them and they love us, and love is a choice.

Answer 5

They have , thats why you see scared animals when they face specific images, this means that this image reminds them something bad, spoiled animals(my Gildo),and never forget that show me the owner and i ll tell you what animal is''tale cane, tale padrone''asthey say in tialian.
The instict is just to survive,but they can distinguish also persons, situations, and images related to facts which have marked their life.
Example:some animals when their owner is absent dont eat from another one, or they know that if they do something wrong, they ll get their lesson(i mean to shout to the animal not to do it again)..
So they have brain, and the proof is the recognition of the less we offer them

Answer 6

They sure do. They have a way of thinking and a way of feeling. I have a cat (or he has me!) with whom we communicate very well. He understands words, sentences, distinguished the tone of my voice, knows when he is being naughty, he knows who loves him and not. It is amazing watching animals. Sometimes I believe that we, human, should learn something from them....

Yes, their instinct is very strong, but this is another issue....
Many purrrrrrrrrrs from my cat Mr.Linus.

Answer 7

Since they have brain they have a way of thinking. They also have feelings, think about the dog that refused for a whole month to get into his owner house, after he was killed by a neighbor (This happened a few months ago, 4 brothers were killed by their neighbor)

Answer 8

They must havea primitive way of thinking, esecially the most intelligent ones, but the graetest differnce between Humans and annimals is in the former the logic dominares instinct most of the time

Answer 9

Some animals do think and learn. Some use tools to get food; this is a form of thinking.

Answer 10

Come ben sai il mio inglese e insufficiente ed il francese non ne parliamo, quindi cerco di risponderti in un forbito italiano, direi lombardo sciacquato in Arno.
A mio modesto parere i rappresentanti del mondo animale non hanno un vero pensiero costruito ed articolato come il nostro. Alcuni di essi, quelli che siano usi chiamare superiori, hanno memoria e capacità di ripetizione delle risposte a stimoli comparabili ai precedenti già memorizzati. Anche i primati, pur con un patrimonio genetico direi quasi identico al nostro hanno quel piccolo deficit che li distingue dagli esseri umani propriamente detti.
Per esseri umani intendo rappresentanti della specie Homo Sapiens Sapiens correttamente provvisti di una qualche proprietà intellettiva, scartando molti di loro che sono sicuramente molto meno intelligenti di moltissimi animali.
Gli animali sfruttano il loro cervello (quello che nell'uomo è ancora oggi il cervelletto) che contiene tutta una serie di informazioni legate all'istinto e alla capacità di sopravvivere o di adattarsi ad un determinato ambiente, ma sempre nella sfera istintiva e non propriamente raziocinante!
Buon w.e. ...baci baci