Debate: Do Animals Have Feelings?

ANN NEELY · #1 08-15-2005, 02:41 PM

I want to hear your opinions on this, as it has been a big discussion for quite a while.

I personally think animals do have feelings. My dogs are happy when I come home, my rat used to wait at the door of her cage for when I come home from school, my animals become concerned when someone cries, and my gerbils seemed depressed when I have to give their children to the pet store.

Your thoughts?

Kimon · #2 08-15-2005, 02:56 PM

Sure they have feelings. They're living, sentient beings, aren't they?

The only animals I can think of that might not have feelings are bugs. I just can't imagine a depressed spider.

used:) · #3 08-15-2005, 02:58 PM

Yes, and only do they have feelings, but once you befirend a dog, they will know if something wrong is in your life. They will also defend you to the end. I'm also really close to my cat because although they are real snobs, they know they can alwyas be a comfort (and they go flying when they run across a wooden floor

)

Abe16 · #4 08-15-2005, 04:44 PM

Yes, they do have feelings. If you don't know why a dog's whimpering, then you really need to get out.

Havoc · #5 08-15-2005, 05:30 PM

Yes, they indeed have feelings. Why wouldn't they? But as said, I realy can't imagine bugs having feelings... I mean. I won't expect a pet spider to wait smacked to the window waiting to come home and stuff :P.

odd chick · #6 08-15-2005, 05:32 PM

Yeah, animals definitely have feelings. My cat is happy to see me whenever I come home, she whines when she's hungry, and she hides and whines when she's scared.

GrubbGuardian · #7 08-15-2005, 06:57 PM

They definately do. I've heard that if a dog's been abused, then if you do so much as raise your hand near it the dog will cower in fright.

Shrink · #8 08-15-2005, 07:01 PM

Yes they do.
Feelings are created by chemical processes in the brain, and most creatures with brains are able to feel emotions of happiness and sadness.
Apparently, in some animals, it is extreme. They either feel ecstatically happy or suicidally sad.

Anyway, if you mean can they think, for example, could they create a scheme, then perform their plan to some other desire - no. They might appear to, and this can be seen by some people as proof, but what they are seeing is just cause and effect, with they filling in spaces that don't need to be filled in.
Aaaanyway, I digress. Slightly.

Havoc · #9 08-15-2005, 07:27 PM

Uhm... animals can think, actualy. Why wouldn't they be able to? I will take my fav. the tiger for example. Or better yet, the lions. Lionesses hunt with a plan, surrounding a prey, then attacking from multiple sides. Now... could just be me, but that requires thinking...

Shrink · #10 08-15-2005, 07:34 PM

It's different. I didn't explain properly, I don't even think I am able to.

Those lions didn't one day just decide to go hunting, and then making up their 'game plan' or sneaking then ambush then chase if necessary -trying to go after the old or weak.
No, what happened is they did as their teacher. Literally, they are copying what their mothers or leaders showed them what do to when they were young, and it works, so they simply do it. They see what works, and do it. Just like that. Hence why their 'thought out' plans never vary a lot or have much flair/originality. The lions, now grown up, get hungry. Or those in their group get hungry. They then put into action what they were taught and hunt down some gazelle. It works, they get their meat. They do the same thing next time they need to because it works, and they survive through it.

used:) · #11 08-15-2005, 07:38 PM

Doesn't look like this is going to be much of a debate, I mean, everyone seems to be on the same page here. Perhaps we could turn this into discussion exploring the concept of animal Psychis.

mudling · #12 08-15-2005, 11:52 PM

well, animals should have feelings, i mean, we don't know if they're just like us in the brain, execpt less intelligent to most of us. i guess comunication is the key, and animals the animals we own are often have no other speacies company, or less then 10. we have millions. therefore the animals might not show their feelings to us.
now i'm not supprized if what i said didn't make sence.

soulstice · #13 08-16-2005, 05:21 AM

Of course animals have feelings. Why does my dog jump up and wag her tail when I come home? Because she FEELS happy. Why does she jump about and bark when I say 'walkies!'? Because she FEELS excited.

As we're also animals and we feel, doesn't that answer your question?

Rich · #14 08-16-2005, 05:29 AM

They feel basic emotions but do not think as we do.

***Wil*** · #15 08-16-2005, 07:48 AM

How can you have a poll for people's opinions on a matter that is black-and-white. Either animals have feelings or they don't. We can find out by turning to science to study the behaviour and minds of animals, but frankly we don't even need that to answer such a broad question. It's obvious animals have feelings.

A much more prudent question to ask now would be what constitutes a feeling, but Esus has covered that one pretty well. Feelings are the perceptions of chemicals released in responce to certain stimuli (chocolate, or something recognised by the brain as a threat, for instances).

soulstice · #16 08-16-2005, 10:44 AM

:

They feel basic emotions but do not think as we do.

Oh, stop it!*blush* You're turning me on...

Rich · #17 08-16-2005, 11:40 AM

:

Oh, stop it!*blush* You're turning me on...

Damn myself and my sexual innuendo...
Anymore of that and I WILL add you to my MSN, you're certainly deserving of it.

I've obviously been talking to Rexy too much and I miss her.

On-topic: I've voted in the poll. Yes. They do indeed have feelings.

soulstice · #18 08-16-2005, 04:43 PM

:

Damn myself and my sexual innuendo...
Anymore of that and I WILL add you to my MSN, you're certainly deserving of it.

*Gasp*I have been naughty, haven't I?*Giggle*

Oh, have it your way then! Go get the whip...

You can be Dodgy Policeman and I'll be erm...Cockney Rogue!

Karotch · #19 08-17-2005, 08:55 AM

I'll never tell you! Never! Grrr! No get out of my head! Alright it's true! The flamingo has no soul!

Teeheehee... anyway...

Feelings emotional and physical are primeval. It all started with two shrimp that were swimming around in hot lava ina primordial earth. So hot you and I would probably disintegrate... or... atleast you (yay for invincibility- courtesy of the Vampire Covenant)... So these shrimp were all like hi and then one was all like the lavas warmer over here and the other is all like ooh! And you know the rest of that story... But that couldn't happen if animals didn't have emotional feelings... and that shrimp wouldve never said the lavas warmer over here if he didn't have physical feeling... oh and animals can plot and plan as was said before... Think about nature is full of devious plots. Spiders spin webs to catch prey... that's a plan... The only thing that I can think of that has taken what was a gift from primorsis the shrimp and his bride moopsy and turned it into an artificial mental capability is people... we're all so fake...

supermonkey801 · #20 08-17-2005, 08:56 AM

Of coarse animals have feelings.It would be wrong to say i cat would be confused if abandoned a dog scared when kicked. It seems that no one would disagree but it would be retartded to say "a animal does not feel any emotion".

supermonkey801 · #21 08-17-2005, 08:57 AM

wo i made a lot of mistakes well it is early in the morning and i am half asleep

Rich · #22 08-17-2005, 11:41 AM

Double posting is against the forum rules, supermonkey801. Don't worry, I'm not going to warn you or be mean. But next time just edit your original post if you have something else to say.

AngryVyykerDude · #23 08-17-2005, 11:54 AM

Duh they have feeling then why else would a dog hump somebody's leg?

Dipstikk · #24 08-17-2005, 12:10 PM

That's one of the reasons we have animal psychologists.

Have you ever heard stories about animals being taken out of a pen at a zoo and their mate becoming depressed? It's sad, really.

I think different animals have different levels in which they feel things. Dogs, cats, dolphins and primates are the highest that I can think of.

used:) · #25 08-17-2005, 12:46 PM

:

Duh they have feeling then why else would a dog hump somebody's leg?

\

Okay, first of all, dogs don't hump a leg because they have emotions for it, it's in their basic insticts to reproduce, making things like an ass up in the air or a leg enticing to have sex with.

Munch's Master · #26 08-17-2005, 01:44 PM

O..K, that just sounded pretty freaky. Anyway, hell yeah animals have feelings. My cats certainly do. I can tell if they're scared,happy, angry, panicking etc. by their eyes, behaviour and the sounds they make. So of course they have feelings.

AngryVyykerDude · #27 08-17-2005, 01:56 PM

it's was a joke

Leto · #28 08-17-2005, 06:48 PM

Yes, they fucking well do.

End?

used:) · #29 08-17-2005, 07:25 PM

:

it's was a joke

Okay, just bridging the gap.

Facsimile · #30 08-18-2005, 03:15 AM

UP NEXT: Do bees think? A recent study confirms that no, they do not.