Debate: Do Animals Have Feelings? -

Dino · #31 08-18-2005, 04:23 AM

Humans are animals. Some of us like to think that we are somehow removed from the title of "animal", or that we're above and beyond everything else, but the fact is, we're just more advanced. Having feelings and emotions are an important part of survival for animals, because they have some inherant advantages; they keep animals away from unfavourable situations, and attract them to favourable situations.

Dark Oddworld · #32 08-18-2005, 10:07 AM

My dog gets depressed whenever you hurt her in anyway even when you don't mean to do it.

Teal · #33 08-18-2005, 11:13 AM

Animals probably can't feel complex emotions, like guilt or regret, or fear of things that might happen in the future - they probably don't have the cognitive ability to do it, and like Shrink said, they probably can't PLAN like a human would - a lion doesn't wake up and think "today I'll go out and catch a wildebeest". They know they'll be hungry in the future, which is why predators kill when they're not hungry, but I've heard it said that that's about as far ahead as they can plan. But as for animals having emotions, of course they do; you just have to look at any pet dog to know that.

used:) · #34 08-18-2005, 02:29 PM

They don't have emotion, no. But they do have a unique form of communication by doing a special dance.

MojoMan220 · #35 08-18-2005, 05:00 PM

I voted "No" by mistake. Actually, that's not true. I'm sorry for lying. This topic makes my future children weep.

Leto · #36 08-19-2005, 02:37 AM

I see Mojoman220 is alone on his arguement.

:

They don't have emotion, no. But they do have a unique form of communication by doing a special dance.

It's an emotional dance.