|
Sixate has an operational definition of intelligence - The ability to shave, wear clothes, etc. Animals con't do those things, so he considers them "not smart" and incapable of human feelings.
OK. So rather than dis sixate ('cause you KNOW you want to) take a look at what he wrote. He defined his terms and backed up his point.
That said, I totally disagree with sixate. Maybe because my view of emotions and intellegence goes beyond the skills associated with having an opposable thumb.
Animals have emotions, many of the same ones that humans have.
Loyalty - I've seen my animals make sacrifices for my family and for eachother.
Emotions like Fear and joy are obvious to anyone who has spent time with a pet.
Love - I believe my cat loves me. Though I can't offer any emperical evidence.
As for intelligence - animals can learn (rember BF Skinner and his mouse mazes), they can think abstractly (elephants create "art" with themes and variations that progress over time), they use language (most notably dolphins, whales and primates), they work together (wolves hunt in packs), they get bored, etc.
__________________
Ass, gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.
|