What do you think animals think about sharing the planet with humans

Certain humans, not all.

Humans are the worse thing that could ever happen to animals.

SORES

Macaydia

I once heard an author say, "Who are we to say that a crab on the ocean floor does not look up at the stars and ponder the universe"

Is that what you mean about anthropomorphism?

Macaydia, how would you imagine that this is even possible?

How can we compare animals for perceived and/or innate intelligence even within the same species, ie, a Spaniel against
a Belgian Malinois
Animals, even those who strategically hunt, track, ambush, alone or as a well co-ordinated team, ie lionesses, do so by instinct, generational memory, watching mama, there is no intelligence per se.

The soulful eyes of a Gorilla do not intelligence convey, a fanciful notion,
as is describing a household bound dog as ‘intellectual’

If philosophical crabs had intelligence, fewer would be caught.

I think you are wrong about mammals.

Whitewavemark2

Interesting the concept - every species has evolved a way to survive.

We appear to have gone one stage further and evolved to destroy

Interesting. I think that every species destroys whilst in the process of surviving. They kill each other, they strip bark off trees to the detriment of other wildlife etc.
Each species does what it has to do to survive with no thought on the impact on the planet or other species. If anything humans are better at looking at the potential impact of us following our survival imperative.
As I said above the idea that animals are good and humans are bad us in my view seriously flawed.
We are the only species that stops to consider the impact of our survival strategies rather than just getting on with blindly surviving.
Too little too late one might say ... but that just makes us human and not inherently evil.

Is that what you mean about anthropomorphism?
Yes!!

Macaydia

I once heard an author say, "Who are we to say that a crab on the ocean floor does not look up at the stars and ponder the universe"

Is that what you mean about anthropomorphism?

Well, we can say that because it would be impossible to see the stars from the bottom of the ocean. Light would not penetrate that far.
If on the shore a crab might realise that it could see its way back to the sea from the light given by the moon and stars!

But it's not going to gaze up and think "Is that Sirius up there?"

I don't know who that author is but 🤔

...and by the way, the film is not about animals good, humans bad. You have to watch it to see. Its more about male behaviors, jealously and young mothers plus female bonding and why.

(sorry for the poor sentence)

I must say, I just love reading eveyone's fine posts. I find the subject so interesting and each opinion is so unique and some of you make me laugh (which is really good for a sad person) 💗

We can speculate a theory but I think the truth is that we can never know for certain, the private thoughts of another mammal.

The one species that I think has benefitted most from humans is dogs. They are lazy, sociable creatures, and they have us sussed.

Luckygirl3

Every animal cannot trust all other animals, including us.
The world is predicated on kill or be killed. Life is short and cruel for most. And spent in terror, looking out for the next predator.
I often wonder at this concept of a good god ... why might they choose to create such a perversely cruel system? Beats me .....
I avoid wildlife programmes .... sometimes there is beauty and brilliant cinematography but in the end it comes down to killing, killing and more killing.

Same here I too avoid those for the same reason.

The way to think that God is good is to think of God as what is good about every person-- we cannot ever know of course, bur the existential search for good is what matters.

Interesting the concept - every species has evolved a way to survive.

We appear to have gone one stage further and evolved to destroy

Every species has evolved a strategy that enables them to survive, some lead simple solitary lives only associating for reproduction, others live in colonies or groups. Of the higher animals some mate for life, some live in groups with a dominant male.

Males will fight, to keep dominance, females fight to defend offspring or find food, they are all are intelligent to the extent needed which they learn off the parents. Many show emotion and affection but the life and death cycle in wild animals is not not a prime concern - survival comes first

Our social structure is much more complex, we are just smart apes, our intelligence is not always used in a positive way

I'm in total awe of most animals, how hard they have to work to find food, raise their young and stay alive. The sheer determination of rebuilding a nest or the bravery of a mum defending her brood.
The little wren singing out to others in freezing weather that she has found a 'sharing' shelter, amazing!
I don't think they would understand our wasteful attitude or self destruction and would be probably pity us!

I have created a bit of a wild life haven in my garden with a pond, grasses, wild flowers, nest bow etc, etc, and it is full of bees, birds, squirrels - the lot.

But when I watch them and admire their beauty I am acutely aware that what seems sweet bobbing around by the birds is simply them on edge and on the lookout for something that might kill them, steal their food, eat their young.

I don't think being intelligent prevents a creature from being 'caught'.

SORES, I find it interesting that I disagree with everything you said. I must be mad or utterly stupid.

I believe mammals learn from other family members (except for octopuses).

I believe humans act on primal instincts often.

I believe gorillas are intelligent and emotional and have human-like motives within their tribes.

I believe some dogs are intelligent and some are obviously not.

I think an entity can be philosophical and killed by other species..

We have thumbs and can make things.
It was once assumed, in our ignorance and arrogance, that we were the only tool makers on this planet.

Speaking of speaking, without our developed languages and written word, humans might not be the King of the Beasts. Even with thought.

Still, we are not as intelligent as an octopus.

I'm not rational when it comes to animals, as they have always been my passion.

I feel so sad when is see foxes and seagulls scavenging for food, because humans are driving them to do so. Don't get me started on the new builds that are destroying hedgerows and green spaces where nesting birds and wildlife are being destroyed.

Macaydia

I once heard an author say, "Who are we to say that a crab on the ocean floor does not look up at the stars and ponder the universe"

Is that what you mean about anthropomorphism?

Macaydia, how would you imagine that this is even possible?

How can we compare animals for perceived and/or innate intelligence even within the same species, ie, a Spaniel against
a Belgian Malinois
Animals, even those who strategically hunt, track, ambush, alone or as a well co-ordinated team, ie lionesses, do so by instinct, generational memory, watching mama, there is no intelligence per se.

The soulful eyes of a Gorilla do not intelligence convey, a fanciful notion,
as is describing a household bound dog as ‘intellectual’

If philosophical crabs had intelligence, fewer would be caught.

Man = bad. Animals = good.
I really don't buy this.
We too are simply animals trying to survive as best we can. I think we have far more concern for our fellow animals than most animals do who just get on and kill each other.
I am not into this romantic poetic view of animals at all. Nor the idea that humans are somehow inherently evil.
The idea of original sin has deeply permeated our culture.

The beasts are very wise,
Their mouths are clean of lies,
They talk one to the other,
Bullock to bullock brothers
Resting after their labors,
Each in stall with his neighbors,
But man with goad and whip,
Breaks up their fellowship,
Shouts in their silky ears
Filling their soul with fears.
When he has plowed the land,
He says: “they understand.”
But the beasts in stall together,
Freed from the yoke and tether,
Say as the torn flank smoke:
“Nay, ’twas the whip that spoke.”
(Rudyard Kipling, The Beasts are Very Wise)
~~~~~

Macaydia

I once heard an author say, "Who are we to say that a crab on the ocean floor does not look up at the stars and ponder the universe"

Is that what you mean about anthropomorphism?

Yes, because I do not beleive they have the right intelligence to do so. Animal, including humans have the intelligence they need to survive and replicate. One species developed further in developing ways to exploit its environment and we have primates.

But if other animals are capable of the forms of thought we have developed they would be on an eual basis with us.

Every animal cannot trust all other animals, including us.
The world is predicated on kill or be killed. Life is short and cruel for most. And spent in terror, looking out for the next predator.
I often wonder at this concept of a good god ... why might they choose to create such a perversely cruel system? Beats me .....
I avoid wildlife programmes .... sometimes there is beauty and brilliant cinematography but in the end it comes down to killing, killing and more killing.

I once heard an author say, "Who are we to say that a crab on the ocean floor does not look up at the stars and ponder the universe"

Is that what you mean about anthropomorphism?