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Scientifically, this might not really be 'thought' as it is likely that researchers would say it is simply rote memorization and a repeat behavior that has taught this animal what specific sounds coming from his owner require of him so that he can react a certain way. By so doing, he knows that there is an end result - a reward - that he will receive, and so he goes through the memorized process again. However, it can be argued that memorization is not the only thing that animals are capable of (Wynne, 2004). Another case of a dog 'thinking' about what he was doing came from a recent house fire that made the news. This particular dog was a service dog, and it rescued its owner from a burning house. After the person was rescued, the dog went back into the still-burning house in an attempt to rescue the cat. Both pets died in the fire. The dog had not been taught to rescue the cat or do anything specific where the cat was concerned. It is logical to deduce, therefore, that the dog thought that the cat was still in there and went back to retrieve the animal. These are traits that human beings do not often possess, and some would feel that dogs and cats are better off for being more 'simple' and not consumed with the worries and problems that humans are required to face on an almost daily basis (Wattenberg, 2000).
If a dog is capable of this kind of action it appears that critics of an animal's ability to think might want to reconsider their strategies and what they have to say regarding whether animals can in fact think. I believe that they can, but I also feel that the way that the 'think' is not the same way that we think. In other words, they are not capable of some of the thoughts and ideas that humans are capable of, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Dogs and cats do not go out and
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In this way, dogs, cats, and other animals not only have it better, but live lives that are often more relaxed and happier than human beings do. Perhaps the animal way of 'thinking' is actually better in many areas than the human way of cogitation. This is not to say that everyone would want to be 'simple,' but only that many of them would likely trade all of their worries and fears for some of their intelligence, at least for a few hours of relaxation where they did not have such serious concerns.
Bibliography
Cromie, William J. (2002, March 14). Scientists think that animals think: But what exactly do they think about? Harvard University Gazette. Retrieved at http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2002/03.14/01-thinking.html.
Wattenberg, Ben (2000, January 1). Do animals think? Think Tank. Retrieved at http://www.pbs.org/thinktank/transcript802.html.
Wynne, Clive D.L. (2004, March 1). Do animals think? Princeton University Press.
Bibliography
Cromie, William J. (2002, March 14). Scientists think that animals think: But what exactly do they think about? Harvard University Gazette. Retrieved at http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2002/03.14/01-thinking.html.
Wattenberg, Ben (2000, January 1). Do animals think? Think Tank. Retrieved at http://www.pbs.org/thinktank/transcript802.html.
Wynne, Clive D.L. (2004, March 1). Do animals think? Princeton University Press.
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