Animals are smart. According to studies of their behavior and intelligence, most of the higher animal kingdom can reason quite well. They can use most of the elements of logic, strategy and things we think of as reason quite well. What most of them are only lacking is language. Once granted some kind of language the results can be quite surprising. Gorillas and Orangutangs, given a bit of access to sign language or a computer, could do quite amazing things. One named Koko was even caught lying. But to have truly human logic and reasoning requires language and memory. Thought is basically an activity of internal talking. There aren't too many of us who don't think in terms of words. Almost every activity that defines us as uniquely human involves language and thought. So what is language? It is basically talking to oneself. So what does that make us?
The animal who talks to himself.
And what defines an utterly nuts person? Talking to oneself.
Happy New Year
Hmmm. :-)
Posted by cholte at January 2, 2005 03:46 AM"And what defines an utterly nuts person? Talking to oneself."
And at other times, talking to oneself arises from a desire for intellegent conversation. Some of us are still searching.
Posted by: chikushonin at January 5, 2005 10:35 PMThat last was meant to be funny ha, ha; rather than funny as in "this guy is nuts."
Sorry for the lame humor.
Posted by: Chris at January 7, 2005 03:16 PM