retep   68 #49 Posted May 27, 2013 Au contraire.  Us being the intelligent species can identify it as exactly that, compassion.  The African hunting dog (predator) feeds and protects it's sick and old pack members when other species leave them to die.  If we recognise these simple acts as compassionate in ourselves then we obviously attach the label to another species because our intelligence allows us to recognise compassion. People are willing to call a dog vicious when it attacks someone but your argument would suggest that it isn't based on the fact that we cannot ask why it did it.  Anthropomorphism, The Beatrix Potter Syndrome. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Murphy Jnr   10 #50 Posted May 27, 2013 Anthropomorphism, The Beatrix Potter Syndrome.  That's as maybe but things are what they are. You can attach any label you want but it stands to reason, if we have words to describe these actions then those are the ones we'll use. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...