Animals smarter than we think -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 20:04:16 01/26/08 Sat
Author: Jfish
Subject: Animals smarter than we think

In our comparisons with animals, we seem to always drop their actions to the level of instinct. Even though, as Mike pointed out, they too show mimetic desire, we have drawn a distinction between ours and theirs because we have a rational faculty. It is what supposedly makes us distinctly human. But it seems that studying animals shows they have they ability to reason and emote like we do. In fact, I cannot see a difference of kind but of degree.

Take for example carrion crows. The New York Times writes about them that:
"At a university campus in Japan, carrion crows line up patiently at the curb waiting for a traffic light to turn red. When cars stop, they hop into the crosswalk, place walnuts from nearby trees onto the road and hop back to the curb. After the light changes and cars run over the nuts, the crows wait until it is safe and hop back out for the food."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/01/science/01bird.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&oref=slogin

I'm guessing, but I'd say cars don't factor into avian instinct. This really takes foresight and thought. Similar forms of intelligence run rampant throughout the animal kingdom. Sure we're smarter, but can we really say man is the only rational animal?

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Replies:

Re: Animals smarter than we think -- Jonathan Dunn, 14:18:29 02/03/08 Sun
Not exatly mimiesis, but... -- JPJ II, 20:00:32 02/03/08 Sun