Why do we assume that animals don't have rational minds?

[WannabeSaint]

Why is it a dogmatic assertion in philosophy that animals don’t have rational minds? Since it’s impossible to know the thoughts of others; how would one be able to prove these animals aren’t rational?

 

[AlNg]

I would say that animals such as dogs or cats do have a certain amount of intelligence and feeling. However, i don’t know of any mathematical theorems, histories or novels written by a non-human animal. Many non-human animals have means of communicating and perhaps there is a language of sorts, but I am not aware of any written languages developed by a non-human animal.

 

[Paddy1989]

Animals are rational by the limits of their nature. They are however without freewill and are machines to their biological makeup that adapt to their surroundings

 

[halogirl]

Still pray that we will see them all again in heaven

 

[Freddy]

I would say that animals such as dogs or cats do have a certain amount of intelligence and feeling. However, i don’t know of any mathematical theorems, histories or novels written by a non-human animal. Many non-human animals have means of communicating and perhaps there is a language of sorts, but I am not aware of any written languages developed by a non-human animal.

Is the written word your requirement for rationality?

 

[Shakuhachi]

Maybe we need to rationale our abuse of them.

 

[BT3241]

A cat lives and thinks as a cat just as a human thinks and acts like a human - why would animal think like a human being it has no need to because it not a human being. To compare them is ridiculous. Expecting them to write and speak is even crazier those are human things no animal things they have no need for an alphabet or to speak the English language.

 

[Rau]

A cat lives and thinks as a cat just as a human thinks and acts like a human

Does a car have appreciation for the notions of “right” and “wrong”.

 

[Freddy]

BT3241:

A cat lives and thinks as a cat just as a human thinks and acts like a human

Does a car have appreciation for the notions of “right” and “wrong”.

Why this need to define rationality only in terms of morality? Morality requires a rational mind but a rational mind (or rational decisions) don’t need to have anything at all to do with morality.

All dogs have four legs. But not all four legged animals are dogs.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

What is the dogmatic definition of “rational mind” in philosophical jargon?

 

[1Lord1Faith]

Why this need to define rationality only in terms of morality?

I love cats. If ever there was an animal that looks upon humans as inferior beings it’s the cat.

Cats do what is “right” for cats. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be around today.

 

[Freddy]

What is the dogmatic definition of “rational mind” in philosophical jargon?

I think that you might find a lot of people consider it to be that which separates us from other animals. So no definition will be accepted that allows for any other situation.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

Well if that’s correct it would certainly make this thread rather pointless.

 

[AlNg]

Is the written word your requirement for rationality?

I wouldn’t say a requirement, but i would say that if an animal had a written language, that would be a strong indication of his rationality. Like i already said, dogs and cats do act in ways which would indicate some type of intelligence. I don’t think it is on the same level as human intelligence however.
In brief, it is going to depend on how you define “rational mind” ? What exactly is your definition?

 

[mdgspencer]

If you believe animals can think, you should tell your pet to read. 

Otherwise it is missing a great thing in life.

 

[Rau]

Why this need to define rationality only in terms of morality?

Only? Is it unworthy for consideration of what makes us unique?

 

[JimG]

Animals don’t post in the Philosophy forum.

 

[CTBcin]

This is based on an Aristotelian notion of the soul:

Plants have a vegetative soul.

Animals have a sensitive soul (which contains the vegetative).

And humans have a rational soul (which contains the vegetative and the sensitive).

The specific difference between humans and the other animals is that humans are rational animals. Namely, we are capable of reflection and acting as moral agents.

But I am probably oversimplifying it.

 

[Freddy]

Freddy:

Is the written word your requirement for rationality?

I wouldn’t say a requirement, but i would say that if an animal had a written language, that would be a strong indication of his rationality. Like i already said, dogs and cats do act in ways which would indicate some type of intelligence. I don’t think it is on the same level as human intelligence however.
In brief, it is going to depend on how you define “rational mind” ? What exactly is your definition?

I think if an animal was able to build the Hubble telescope then it probably would indicate a degree of rationality as well. But why are we setting the bar so high? One definition would simply be an ability to reason. And that can be very straightforward indeed.

 

[AlNg]

One definition would simply be an ability to reason.

What is your definition of an ability to reason. Let us say that a monkey sees a banana hanging from a high cross wire and a ladder nearby. He then takes the ladder, uses it to climb up and reach for the banana which he then eats. Is that rational thinking?