I think that until you can read an animals mind; you cannot definitively say whether or not they possess certain emotions. As human beings, we feel human emotions. Just because I say my dog is happy, doesn't mean I'm implying she's happy in the "human" sense of the word. We use human emotions to describe animals because we do not know how they feel our emotions so we can only use our own as a comparison.
ALL ANIMALS USE THEIR OWN EMOTIONS AS A BASIS TO UNDERSTAND THE EMOTIONS OF OTHERS. Mammals all basically speak the same language.
If you're right and we "just don't know". Then don't you think it'd be better to assume they comprehend the basic emotions, happiness, fear, discomfort, etc. And leave the more complex emotions to those we KNOW can express them? Is it so difficult to do that? I've seen people impose embarrassment and even full reactions to things like videos and statements made by other people. "Don't say that you'll hurt it's feelings." There's no real way you can hurt an animals feelings unless it's physical hurt they're feeling.
Also I'll continue to doubt that statement until it's explained coherently.
IIN that it bothers me when people impose human emotions onto animals?
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I think that until you can read an animals mind; you cannot definitively say whether or not they possess certain emotions. As human beings, we feel human emotions. Just because I say my dog is happy, doesn't mean I'm implying she's happy in the "human" sense of the word. We use human emotions to describe animals because we do not know how they feel our emotions so we can only use our own as a comparison.
ALL ANIMALS USE THEIR OWN EMOTIONS AS A BASIS TO UNDERSTAND THE EMOTIONS OF OTHERS. Mammals all basically speak the same language.
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Royalburden
9 years ago
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If you're right and we "just don't know". Then don't you think it'd be better to assume they comprehend the basic emotions, happiness, fear, discomfort, etc. And leave the more complex emotions to those we KNOW can express them? Is it so difficult to do that? I've seen people impose embarrassment and even full reactions to things like videos and statements made by other people. "Don't say that you'll hurt it's feelings." There's no real way you can hurt an animals feelings unless it's physical hurt they're feeling.
Also I'll continue to doubt that statement until it's explained coherently.