Are Animals Sentient?

[nicegirlsarenice]

Is that why they're running the world then? I'm not sure what planet you and nicegirls are living on, but in my world (which I think is called 'real life'), humans dominate the earth. They've got an entire civilisation going on, apparently. Space rockets, the internet, science, art, everything.

Humans don't "dominate" the earth, flies and germs dominate the earth far more than humans do. Rodents have also done very well. "Space rockets, the internet, science, art, everything" have nothing to do with the dominating the planet. And humans didn't "invent" science, science is just there. Other animals can learn science as well, everything is science.

Ah for christs sake Westside. The fundamental difference between Man and beast was the inelligence to evolve. Animals, while wonderful, do not have this. Hence we are the superior race. Hence we evolved. Hence Darwin, and the theory of Evolution. I have stayed off this thread but ffs, please.

All plants and animals are evolving, you don't need intelligence to evolve. We're not "superior" at all, we're inferior because we're ruining ourselves and the planet. What animal is doing that except humans? None are.

In fact, if there were a virus I could release right now that would wipe humans from the face of the planet... I would do so. At least then some of my relatives (for example the great apes), would have a chance of survival into the distant future. It won't happen the way things are now, with their fool evolutionary cousin the Human, irreversibly destroying themselves, their children and the planet and actually considering themselves clever for doing so.

[An don]

In fact, if there were a virus I could release right now that would wipe humans from the face of the planet... I would do so.

Make sure you release it in Knockraha first .

[nicegirlsarenice]

You really are a sad little shit aren't you?

[dark-knight]

Wild crows can recognize individual people. But people -- even people who love crows -- can't recognize individual crows. Fact.
On evolution, animals evolve to suit their environment, humans evolve their environment to suit humans.

[nicegirlsarenice]

Wild crows can recognize individual people. But people -- even people who love crows -- can't recognize individual crows. Fact.
On evolution, animals evolve to suit their environment, humans evolve their environment to suit humans.

Wow, I never knew that crows could recognize individuals humans. Crows are extremely smart though, in a few seconds they will work out how to bend a piece of wire to get a piece of food... faster than a human could. They also mourn their dead, they have complex social lives and continually help each other out. They are incredibly intelligent, we're only finding all this stuff out about them now.

Ironically because they're so common and thought of as such a nuisance, crows are actually one of the smartest birds/animals on the planet. Not some exotic, really rare birds... the common crow.

[Doozer]

Humans don't "dominate" the earth, flies and germs dominate the earth far more than humans do. Rodents have also done very well. "Space rockets, the internet, science, art, everything" have nothing to do with the dominating the planet. And humans didn't "invent" science, science is just there. Other animals can learn science as well, everything is science.
.

I think flies and germs over poulate the earth while humans do infact dominate it NGAN. Mousey didnt say we invented science howver we did discover it( The mechanics theories etc)
Animals can do science you say? Any chance you can get your dog to explain quatum physics and chaos theroy?

[Derry lad]

i've a rottweiler who can sense when im gonna take him for a walk, he bounces mad around the living room when i lift my coat and keys. now i know your thinking that he recognises the lifting of the coat and keys but other times when im just going to the shop he doesnt bother, so i reckon its communication at a higher level.
he also recognises the sound of my jeep coz my neighbour sez that he heads to the back gate as i pull up. also he gets up and growls if any stranger passes by the front of the house but when my girlfriend pulls up he goes to the front door to meet her.
and when im in bad form he will bounce up on the sofa and lie beside me and when the form is okay he's happy to lie on the other sofa.
finally when i take him out walking i've a retractable 6m lead which he runs around on but as we come up to a telephone or electric pole he comes back beside me and doesnt get caught up on the pole like other dogs that i've seen.
buggers smarter than me most of the time!!

[Rockman]

Do you have to ask this question are animals sentient of course they are just not the same way we are.

Animals can imagine as when in a slaughter house they feel fear, and physical pain of course the feel this. I am pretty sure they dream too. So they too have a self awareness. They also have been shown to have access to a universal mind as with scionized flight sometimes seen in large flocks of birds.

So vegetarianism is the answer and if you cant do this show the animals and yourself some respect and eat only the best organic meat from reliable sources you can find.