From:
autumn_whispers2me
Date: 2005-01-29 22:50:26 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Ferrets and their (in)ability to deliberate
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <30931963.1107040140017.JavaMail.nobody@chromium.smartgroups.com>
Your post made me smile. I guess this Prof. has never watched a ferret try=
one way to get past a barrier blocking them from where they want to be, on=
ly to try several different ways until they either find a way or give up...=
only to revisit the problem again even the next day with a new approach and=
determination. I've seen mine learn to unlatch my purse, and I've seen th=
em find ways we've never even thought of to escape or get to something they=
want. I've seen mine do some 'amazing' "deliberating.' Maybe this guy sh=
ould see and observe ferret behavior first-hand before making such a claim.=
I agree with you in that if they can't prove they are deliberating (becaus=
e they can't see what's going on in their heads), they can't disprove it ei=
ther. Silly professor.smb11@uakron.edu wrote: Does anyone know if it is tru=
e that they don=92t have the brain capacity to rationalize and reason? Or d=
oes anyone know where I can find research on this topic? When I watch my bo=
ys, it sure seems like they are thinking about what to do next and some of =
the decisions they make don=92t seem to have anything to do with instincts.=