So a question popped into mind when feeding Jeffrey Cat this morning: Do cats (or any animals) think linguistically (i.e., do they have a specific abstract meme for every object / event they encounter) or are they in a more zen-like total experiental mode w/their environment? I.e., is there a consistent idea that means door to them so that when they see the garage door or the cabinet door they think of them as similar objects even though they have somewhat different appearances & functions, or are they just part of their overall environment that can change on occasion to reveal something on the other side. (Related question: In the latter case, do animals need to actually see or experience something for it to be real to them or do they understand something still exists even when its out of sensory range?) I know there are studies that indicate animal languages that various species / herds / flocks use to convey vital information, that dogs and horses are capable of understanding extremely complex verbal commands and cues, and that apes and chips have been taught to use (or at least correctly mimic) English sentence construction via sign language and flash cards. My question is whether animals inherently think linguistically as humans do. (Hoping Steven Barnes. Susan E Fisher, David Gerrold, and Bill Warren might wish to contribute based on their experience w/animals or human thought processes)
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 21:42:44 +0000
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