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Many people think that only people have consciousness, but is it really so? Differences between human's brain and brains of great apes (gorillas, chimpanzes, orangutans) are minimal. It's possible to teach a gorilla a language (apes don't have organs to speak orally). But if so, do all animals have consciousness, or some of them (the most primitive) don't?
Generally, I'd think not. However, when we first got our cat and I told him over and over how handsome he was, I soon found him sitting in front of the full-length mirror in the hallway, staring at his reflection.
noun
noun consciousness
the state of being awake and aware of one's surroundings.
the awareness or perception of something by a person.
the fact of awareness by the mind of itself and the world.
This is the definition of consciousness I got from the Google dictionary.
I think my cat qualifies. Of course by the last definition, being a cat, she is the world.
I think the OP means a conscience, not consciousness. If you've ever had a dog pee on the carpet, you know they have an awareness of having done something wrong.
I think the OP means a conscience, not consciousness. If you've ever had a dog pee on the carpet, you know they have an awareness of having done something wrong.
You got that right. Our last dog (before our current Silky) was a small Yorkie. She could piddle and we'd never find it, except that she'd look/act guilty. Then we'd look very closely until we found it -- either a wet spot or a cigarette butt-sized turd. She only did it a few times in 15 years, but when she did, she knew it was bad and would mope about until we cleaned it up and told her it was okay.
I think ALL animals have some form of consciousness...
just because it may not be exactly how we perceive it...makes it no less valid...at least in my opinion
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