[NatureNS] Crows: the shock and the grief (?)

next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects

Index of Subjects
Bravo to Suzanne for her clear, sane message vs. the idea that Homo sapiens 
alone is capable of anything classifiable under the names of emotion, grief, 
loyalty, play, etc. If anthropomorphism is the inaccurate imposition of 
human traits upon other species, anthropocentrism is the egotistical, 
human-centered insistence that we're utterly unique in all these regards. 
Such an attitude is one reason for the disregard and sense of dominion and 
superiority our species has felt over everything else on the planet. 
Descartes may have believed that other species are little more than 
chemically-driven robots, but over a hundred years ago Darwin was 
questionioning that bias. See his The Expression of Emotions in Man and 
Animals, originally published in 1872. One of the more recent editions was 
published in 1979 by Julian Friedmann Publishers, in London. It's 
interesting how some people have embraced most of Darwin's theory of 
evolution, but have tried to turn a blind eye to his theories about animal 
emotion.
Brian

----- riginal Message ----- 
From: "Suzanne Borkowski" <suzanneborkowski@yahoo.ca>
To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2007 6:21 PM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Crows: the shock and the grief (?)


> Hi;
>
> Anthropomorphism is defined as attributing human
> characteristics or personality traits to animals or
> gods.
>
> So, for example, everyone knows that a cartoon
> depicting Donald Duck singing and playing the piano is
> anthropomorphism.
>
> What amazes me, however, is that many people think
> having emotions is a solely human characteristic.
>
> Happiness, sadness, fear, anger, are all emotions, and
> not just the perogative of humans.  Anyone who owns a
> dog or cat can give examples of their pet displaying
> these same emotions.
>
> Wild animals can also have emotions.  Why not?  The
> world is made up of many different species.  Some of
> them, like crows, dolphins, whales, are quite
> intelligent.  Who's to say that humans are the only
> species to think, figure, and feel emotion?
>
> Cheers;
> Suzanne

next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects