If an orphaned animal is come upon by a distressed mother, the orphaned baby will probably wind up drinking her milk.
Obviously this is in mammals.... but the motherly instinct itself goes even further. Birds. The fucking birds.
Even comparing apples to apples- humans are also the only animals that make tofurkey too. You’d be hard pressed to find animals out there undertaking complex chemistry so they can avoid eating edible and available food but replicate its flavor or texture in another medium. But- many creatures are observed performing behaviors one might say only humans do. Ants milk aphids for “honeydew.” Ants also “farm” growing various fungal gardens and the like- and one species even keeps a “domesticated” scale insect that is harmless but has lost its ability to produce “armor” scale- making it an easy form of livestock for eating.
I first want to say that I’ve noticed you’ve been DV’d in the last two posts of mine you’ve commented on, and want to be clear I did not dv you. I use my words when I take issue with something, and disagreement isn’t necessarily cause for ill will in my book that said:
Perhaps they are. Or perhaps not. Perhaps it’s just different. There’s a strong case for some sort of “enlightenment,” or “ethics” etc. but “smarter,” that’s debatable. The first thing many people fail to consider in such debates is wether a person cares or not. I’m not condoning it or advocating it- but simply put- a person who doesn’t plan to have kids and or is older- what do they care what happens to the environment in 40,70,6000 years?
From the perspective of self interest- what’s smart about not taking what you can while you’re here? You live once as far as science can tell, and things like courtesy etc. won’t get you any social favor of practical enjoyment when you’re dead- so there aren’t any compelling practical reasons to care if some generations away they curse your selfishness are there?
But if we look at it from another direction- saying animals are smarter because they “live in harmony with nature” assumes a bit much. It assumes animals have a choice other than to do just that. That’s what “nature” is... Things evolve very slowly. Anything alive is something capable of adapting to the present “mix” of conditions and life forms. One organism changes, it has an advantage, it’s hunters or prey adapt too or die. Other things adapt to this change. The web of life is made up of creatures adapted into a form of symbiosis- because the development of one is contingent upon others, and their individual “natures” shape “natures” of others and make up... nature.
So “animals are smarter because they just do what comes naturally and don’t generally innovate or come up with complex ideas and engineering...” well... I don’t know that adds up. Wiser? Perhaps? Humans do tend to move too fast at times. Or so it seems. Our laws, culture, even us as individuals has trouble keeping pace with the rate we make changes and technological leaps. Slowing down would certainly give nature and ourselves a chance to catch up. I personally believe that technological growth shouldn’t outpace a societies ability to ethically and responsibly handle that technology. But then again- I really like things like internet and cars, so I’m a bit of a hypocrite there.
The other fallacy is that IF a species of animal had access to technology which have it advantage it would be use it- which simply isn’t true as far as we have been able to see. Things like our also discussed firehawk show animals- if they discover an advantage- will tend to use it, and unlike humans who at least (wether we act accordingly or not) are generally cognizant of the side effects or harms of our actions.
I’ve seen my pet chickens eat medicinal plants. I once put a bucket of water out cause it was hot and then, no lie, one chicken jumped in, shakes around then hops out and immediately after several others came and started drinking the water.
>Is that chicken soup? Do the have a cold? I don’t know. I have pics of my chickens I can post if anyone is interested
>One Rooster used to bully me when I was a kid(They can live upto 15 years) but now I know that Rooster Joe was trying to toughen me up
Obviously this is in mammals.... but the motherly instinct itself goes even further. Birds. The fucking birds.
>Is that chicken soup? Do the have a cold? I don’t know. I have pics of my chickens I can post if anyone is interested
>One Rooster used to bully me when I was a kid(They can live upto 15 years) but now I know that Rooster Joe was trying to toughen me up