Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? in Around the World in 80 Books

May 16, 2022 Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance rated it really liked it

Shelves: animals, nonfiction, nature

Whew. I had no idea. I have been sitting up there, atop the animal hierarchy, where I believed humans justly reign supreme in the universe, looking down (benevolently, I hope) on all the other creatures not blessed with a person-sized brain, self-satisfied, and now, after reading this book, I find that I have been toppled from my position, and I lay here, dazed and a bit confused.

Who knew?

Frans de Waal takes a thorough look at cognition studies that have been done throughout time and across var ...more

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Apr 24, 2021 Mike rated it it was amazing

Over a long career studying animals, Dr. de Waal, has built up enough time observing, and studying to be well versed in questions related to animal intelligence. That he can explain his viewpoint in a way that even 5 year olds would understand shows the depth to which he has mastered the subject.

Takeaways:
1. Many species of animals show evidence of theory of mind. Birds have demonstrated an understanding of humans feelings. Dogs clearly can predict your emotional state and respond to it.

2. Anim Over a long career studying animals, Dr. de Waal, has built up enough time observing, and studying to be well versed in questions related to animal intelligence. That he can explain his viewpoint in a way that even 5 year olds would understand shows the depth to which he has mastered the subject.

Takeaways:
1. Many species of animals show evidence of theory of mind. Birds have demonstrated an understanding of humans feelings. Dogs clearly can predict your emotional state and respond to it.

2. Animals understand temporality, and their place in the now vs. a probabilistic future where they can predict outcomes. However, some animals like birds store seeds for winter, even though they have never seen a winter themselves. This implies that the behavior is likely largely genetic. Monkeys however, can predict where nuts can be found, will shape and carry tools for great distanced to use to open those nuts and arrange to arrive at a predetermined time even though they are going to or arriving from different locations.

3. Animals clearly identify themselves in the mirror test - elephants checking their teeth and throat as well as brushing off markings on the skin. Even animals who do not respond to the mirror test, also do not treat the image as a competitor - dogs, cats, birds.

4. Most animals are social beings. Their level of sociality seems to either have driven or been driven by the skills needed to manage that society. Monkeys, whales, elephants all communicate messaging clearly - bees vs lions calls by elephants, masái vs. other humans calls, monkeys responding to a hunt and organizing attacks.

5. Some animals are obviously very intelligent, but in ways that we in our limited capacities are unlikely to understand or grasp - ie cephalopods & octopus

6. History seems to show that humans continually try to define themselves as uniquely intelligent, competent, wise, compassionate, etc. through history. There has been a constant drive to see us as different from the them of all other species. The main point of the book is that these arguments when broken down have very little to support them. Language, compassion, use of tools, planning, strategy, understanding of time and death, all of these are widespread across species. We may be a different shade from others, but clearly that is in degree and not in kind. It is also questionable if we exceed other species in any of the supporting differentiators individually.

We have smaller brains, less neurons, live in smaller societies, etc. That we as humans can not see this and show a continuing desire to think ourselves superior implies the problem is with us rather than any superiority over animals.
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