Fish Triva!

[Miss Dib Dabs]

I also suspect alot of humans are guilty of that particular trait.
I am well aware they are not the same as we are but to consider them lesser beings or to have less intelligence, simply because it doesn't work in the same ways ours does, is, in my opinion, wrong. I just don't consider that anybody knows enough about the workings of the human, animal, fish, avian brain to know for sure that 'they' only live on instinct. And until I am supplied with irrefutable proof to the contrary I shall continue to think so.
Most young children cannot recognise themselves in a mirror either and yet have an incredible ability to learn and adapt to their enviroment and can walk and talk before they can even recognise themselves as themselves in a reflection. They, in fact, have to be taught that it is themselves by their parents. Therefore, is it not possible that any animal, if taught from an early age will learn to react in a certain way to their reflection. Thing is, without being about to communicate in their own language how could they be taught? I really would like to know if it is possible to teach animals to recognise themselves, as, you have pointed out, some apes and birds have managed.
But then birds have very small brains also. Which also points out that a small brain doesn't mean a less developed one.
Hugs,
P.

 

[timmystood]

You ask a few trivia question and it end up in a debate like this!!!

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Half the fun of it isn't it? Ask some q's!
Hugs,
P.

 

[Undawada]

I've got one.

What is the name of the species of fish that was thought to have gone extinct 65 million years ago, until a living specimen was caught in the ocean in 1938?

 

[timmystood]

I KNOW THIS! Seriously I do, I saw it on TV just last night! Honestly - I cannot remember the name. Damm, I KNOW IT! DAMM DAMM DAMM

 

[prankster705]

^^me to, it had loads of fins...

 

[PlecMama]

It was a Coelacanth (sp) and then they found one of those weird squidy things too....that name will come to me later, probably about 3am tonight....

 

[andywg]

I also suspect alot of humans are guilty of that particular trait.
I am well aware they are not the same as we are but to consider them lesser beings or to have less intelligence, simply because it doesn't work in the same ways ours does, is, in my opinion, wrong. I just don't consider that anybody knows enough about the workings of the human, animal, fish, avian brain to know for sure that 'they' only live on instinct. And until I am supplied with irrefutable proof to the contrary I shall continue to think so.
Most young children cannot recognise themselves in a mirror either and yet have an incredible ability to learn and adapt to their enviroment and can walk and talk before they can even recognise themselves as themselves in a reflection. They, in fact, have to be taught that it is themselves by their parents. Therefore, is it not possible that any animal, if taught from an early age will learn to react in a certain way to their reflection. Thing is, without being about to communicate in their own language how could they be taught? I really would like to know if it is possible to teach animals to recognise themselves, as, you have pointed out, some apes and birds have managed.
But then birds have very small brains also. Which also points out that a small brain doesn't mean a less developed one.
Hugs,
P.

You are correct, a lot of humans are guilty of that trait. It is mostly due to the fact that the human mind cannot cope with understanding that another being can view life in such a radically different way that they do, so they don't. They believe that all beings look upon the world in a similar fashion to them.

The human mind is not considered developed to a point of sentience until around 2 years. Therefore one younger than 2 would not be expected to recognise. In fact IIRC the human eye cannot focus clearly on a face until at least 6 months or so.

The animals I have pointed out are ones that are considered intelligent. However they are very much in the minority. They were not trained to recognise themselves. They do it naturally. There is a great deal of debate as to whether a number of the great apes are sentient or not. The biggest problem is that the test and application thereof is not entirely agreed upon for sentience.

You request irrefutable evidence...there is no such thing in science. Every thing is open to be disproved.

We consider them to have less intelligence because they lack the skills related to higher intelligence: tool using abilities, problem solving abilities, the ability to learn from another the basics and then introduce their own aspects (such as Gorillas taught to sign).