Chapter 11
Locke talks about how animals do not have the ability to analyze ideas, or to put many ideas together as well as humans do. This is true, but he underestimates how smart animals can be. He says that maybe with some senses they will put some ideas together and grasp a semi large picture overall. But there are animals that have abilities to work together and form life long relationships as in the case with some apes. They stay with there mate all throughout their lives. They also become very protective and are able to bring together ideas of an enemy and protect what they need to protect. Prairie dogs have the ability to yelp when they see an enemy flying over head. However, when a young prairie dog yelps they will look up and determine for themselves if this is truly an enemy or just a young mistake. Even bees do waggle dances and release pheromones to point the rest of the colony in the direction of food. Although he is right that animals aren't as smart as humans, I believe he is horribly underestimating them. Then again the research and observations that had been done at his day in age are must less numersome than the info we have today.
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i would have to say that animals do think, but no where near as in depth as humans do. Animals can be trained which means that they can at least LEARN consequences and rewards for their action. People learn the same way in childhood. Also, many species have languages for communication, which is rarely considered an instinct. Also, what about birds in major cities that allow you to walk right up to them? their natural instincts to fly away from larger animals (humans in this case)were subsided by their reoccurring experiences. If that's not learning i don't know what is.
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