My Journey with the Question

Back in grade school, my teacher asserted that animals lacked the ability to think. According to her, humans possessed this capacity, while animals did not. Even as a child, I sensed something was amiss.

I couldn't articulate my curiosity back then, wondering, “What do you mean by think?” or, “What about dolphins?” Although I was without pets due to allergies, I felt my teacher was undervaluing animal capabilities. While it's uncertain whether simpler creatures possess cognitive abilities, can we really dismiss the intelligence of cats, dogs, or even larger animals like lions and tigers?

If she had stated, “Most animals act on instinct rather than thought,” it might have been a more accurate simplification. Perhaps she genuinely believed that animals lacked cognition, a common notion in the late 1960s. Such beliefs may lead to the unfortunate dismissal of animal suffering and contribute to issues like pet abandonment.

Moreover, I encountered similar sentiments in college. A sociology professor claimed that animals operate purely on instinct, ignoring the complexities of animal behavior. Although classmates pointed out the nurturing instincts seen in humans, the professor countered with examples of neglectful human parents.

Yet, it’s essential to recognize that some animals also neglect their young, often due to environmental factors. This suggests that animal behavior may not be as instinct-driven as previously thought. To her credit, that professor was well-versed in cultural anthropology and offered valuable insights.

What Do Current Scientists Believe?

The answer varies. A prominent reference is Clive D. L. Wynne's 2004 book, Do Animals Think?, published by Princeton University Press. Wynne, an ethologist, cautioned against attributing human traits to animals. He acknowledged the extraordinary nature of animals but criticized figures like Jane Goodall for what he termed the "false humanization" of animals.

Despite this, one must question whether a dog’s inability to grasp human emotions equates to a lack of thought altogether.

However, the scientific discourse has evolved since Wynne's book. Long before its publication, researchers at Harvard were positing that animals must think to survive in their environments. An article published in Nature Education Knowledge in 2012 further explored this notion, reinforcing the idea that animals possess cognitive abilities.

In 2017, philosophy professor Cameron Buckner presented arguments supporting rational thought in animals, as detailed in a journal article. Additionally, a 2020 article in Psychology Today by Dr. Juliane Bräuer affirmed that animals do think, though evaluating their intelligence necessitates a different approach.

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy contains a comprehensive overview of how this question has engaged thinkers over centuries. It highlights that scientific research has dispelled many outdated beliefs about animal cognition. For instance, garter snakes exhibit social behavior, fruit flies can learn socially, and fish have shown self-recognition. Remarkably, rats demonstrate empathy, further expanding our understanding of animal intelligence.

Moreover, researchers are increasingly recognizing the intelligence of invertebrates, challenging biases against them. An intriguing article by Lisa Hendry from the Natural History Museum titled Octopuses Keep Surprising Us—Here Are Eight Examples How showcases some of the remarkable capabilities of these creatures.

A dedicated scholarly journal, Animal Cognition, has been publishing since 1999, predating Wynne's book and indicating a long-standing interest in this field. For those seeking a broader perspective, numerous articles can be found at AnimalCognition.org.

Postscript

If my former teacher were to meet her dogs in the afterlife, they might have some unresolved issues to discuss.

The video titled "What Animals Think and Feel" explores the inner lives of animals, providing insights into their cognitive abilities and emotional experiences.

In the video "What Science Can Tell Us About Animal Intelligence with Brandon Keim | Sentient: The Podcast," listeners gain a deeper understanding of animal intelligence from a scientific perspective.