We are intelligent. That’s an assumption. We have defined circumstances. We have defined
behavior. As exhibited by humans versus other animals. We’ve defined that to be intelligent
but would some other species make the same assessment? I think about this often. We have
not successfully communicated in any meaningful way with any other species on earth. A few
hand gestures, maybe. That’s it. We haven’t exchanged any kind of meaningful thoughts.
Even species that are genetically similar to us, such as chimpanzees. So now let’s
go to some other planet. Some other life form. And the audacity for us to even suggest that
we would be able to communicate it when there is no DNA in common at all. We can’t communicate
with other life with common DNA. Go to another planet and say we are intelligent so we can
communicate with each other? That’s hubristic to presume that we are the measure of the
capacity to communicate. What I’ve noticed over the decades, that I’ve paid attention
to this, is the other animals in the animal kingdom, whenever we presume some level of
intelligence for them, further research shows that they are smarter than we ever thought.
Or cleverer than we ever gave them credit for being. Humans aren’t as good as we should
be in our capacity to empathize with feelings and thoughts of others; be they humans or
other animals on earth. Maybe part of our formal education should be training in empathy.
Imagine how different the world would be if it were reading, writing, arithmetic, empathy.
My kids, they are perfectly happy watching animal shows on our large flat-panel television
without the need to run to a circus and see shackled animals run around and walk in circuses.
I think most children take very kindly to animals, and I’ve always remarked, not really
understanding why it so but it clearly works, that most children programming involves talking
animals bringing lessons to children rather than people. Something must happen after childhood
for those who then feel compelled for those to disrespect the very animals that taught
them how to spell. Or how to read. I spent a lot of my early life just trying to get
into the head of a dog and try to understand their emotions. And I think that changed me
for the better. Because every time I look at an animal, I wonder what are they thinking
about. Animals, they behave in funny ways and some of the highest hit Youtube clips
are animals behaving in funny ways. Usually in their interactions with their owners. I
think that kind of exposure to the animal kingdom is a good thing. And people who separate
themselves from that experience, that can’t be good. Because then if you don’t think
about it, it’s easy to discount it or to not care. And we’ve already seen how humans