Dolphin Asks Diver For help

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by avb3

Anyone remember the TV series Flipper?

Did you have "Skippy" in Canada?
A kangaroo who could reason. Proof enough for me .

[mausgras]

The study of reasoning ability, intelligence, logic, problem solving, empathy, self awareness, language etc, all these high level cognitive processes come together in what is called the "theory of mind".
Humans believe they have it and this discussion is really about the question of whether other animals also have it.
The definition of a theory of mind includes an important qualifier, the species must not only recognise is own self awareness but it must also realise others are self aware.
Hundreds of experiments have demonstrated this ability in many species. Experiments have failed to find any one characteristic that is unique to humans and not present in other species. They only differ in degree or form.
Dolphins have a very sophisticated language. It does not involve words because that is not a very good way to communicate underwater. They have developed a method of producing sound much more efficient and not only conveys meaning between individuals but can be used for echolocation and even shape determination.

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[carstenb]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

Did you have "Skippy" in Canada?
A kangaroo who could reason. Proof enough for me .

Not to mention Mr. Ed, the talking horse......................

On a more serious note, I believe it was the writer Robert Heinlein who noted that in a meeting with any sufficiently technologically advanced civilization, anything they do will seem like magic to mankind.

Perhaps this is the problem we face when discussing animal reasoning powers etc. We simply do not a common reference point to measure each other against.

I seriously doubt if a dophin would care what the outcome of his IQ test was. Any testing we devise to "measure" animal intelligence or powers of reasoning are bound to be biased and skewed towards human intelligence parameters.

Much the same reason why it is not necessarily a good idea to compare IQ test scores from persons brought up in a Euclidian logic society and those in a non-euclidian logic society.


Turning all this on its head - to a dophin, we are poor creatures who can't survive in the water, nor can we communicate in their language.

tsk, tsk - apprently humans have sub-intelligence and are incapable of serious reasoning

[avb3]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

Did you have "Skippy" in Canada?
A kangaroo who could reason. Proof enough for me .

Not sure, but there was Mickey Mouse. And Goofy.

[Coops]

Originally Posted by avb3

Not sure, but there was Mickey Mouse. And Goofy.

So you have been on CF for a while then?

Coops.

[avb3]

Yes. It drives one Daffy at times, doesn't it?

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[mottseng]

Would agree that the pictured animal/human might be able to reason.

[Neeltje]

She looks like she comes from the South Side, so maybe, maybe not...

[sailorchic34]

Looks a little fishy to me.

[mausgras]

She is obviously Finnish.

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[Coops]

I octopus your face in for saying that. Just Codding. I only said that for the halibut.
Coops

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by mausgras

She is obviously Finnish.

She is only half Fin!!

[OfirTure]

Wow dolphins are smart, I knew they were smart for hunting there food but didnt know they knew how to basically ask for help, I think I will have to tell the captain on the boat I am going on this weekend for a dolphin watch cruise about this. Though he probably already knows it.

[GordMay]

100 dolphins rescued from low tide in Herring River, Cape Cod
➥ https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens...-cod-1.7251589

“... Rescuers believe 100 dolphins have made it to safety following the largest dolphin rescue effort ever performed by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)...
... 10 dolphins died before her team arrived that day, and an estimated 15 died during the rescue attempt...”