Dan Weiss Ph.D. on September 20, 2013
Rats with empathy, dolphins with long memories, monkeys that communicate like humans... the headlines pertaining to animal intelligence suggest profound cognitive similarities with humans. Intuitively, we know these similarities only go so far; humans alone build skyscrapers, drive cars and read blogs. Why is it, then, that we enjoy thinking that animals are just like us?
Rats with empathy, dolphins with long memories, monkeys that communicate like humans... the headlines pertaining to animal intelligence suggest profound cognitive similarities with humans. Intuitively, we know these similarities only go so far; humans alone build skyscrapers, drive cars and read blogs. Why is it, then, that we enjoy thinking that animals are just like us?