1 Comment

1. Steve Ayers says:

   June 21, 2010 at 11:11 pm

   I wish to share two thoughts.
   1) Concerning animal emotion.
   Behavioral biologist may assert that animals do not have emotions. But evolutionary biologist would assert that at least mammals have emotions. The evolution of the human brain occurred is 3 to 4 distinct phases. The lowest brain is the reptilian brain, which is responsible for keeping the heart beating, and the lungs breathing. Over the reptilian brain developed the mammalian brain, which is common among all mammals. The mammalian brain is responsible for emotion and long term memory, the two being twin sisters in a sense. On top of the mammalian brain developed the cortex which is unique to primate, and in humans there is the neo-cortex. The neo-cortex is what enables you to understand the words I am writing, higher mathematical functions, and language. It is what makes us fancy monkeys.

   In this analysis its quite clear that ALL mammals should posses emotions. Though I could have simple said look at a dog. And by looking at her you know what she is feeling.

   2) On Michael and his son with musical chairs:
   I think that the story of ‘Clever Hans’ might apply here, though this is not to say Michael’s son is of lesser intelligence.
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clever_Hans

   Peace,
   Steve