From: Jouni
... > Also the difference between humans and most of the other smart animals, > such as elephants, dogs and dolphins is that they lack motivation to > develop themselves although here it is only a matter of degree, > not qualitative difference such as between animals and computers. I realize the following reply is changing the subject a bit but I disagree with the conjecture that cetaceans (dolphins, etc...) lack motivation to develop themselves. A common standard of intelligence, or sentience, is the sophistication of play the species is capable of engaging in. The following You-Tube clip clearly shows a sophistication beyond the comprehension of many humans concerning the ability to generate bubble rings. These dolphins not only know how to control the reaction, they do so at their own whim. IMHO, it's not just the ability to generate these vortex bubble rings (Without the advantage of dexterous appendages like hands) it's how they interact with the artificially induced objects they have created, constantly guiding and nudging them along, and occasionally splitting them. There is deliberate calculated intent based on a playful intelligence that has acquired an intimate knowledge of physics involved in the water environment they live in. Granted, humans have learned to create similar bubble rings with their own mouths. We had to learn how to do it, just like dolphins had to learn how to do it - which they do much better than we. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&NR=1&v=mHyTOcfF99o In the following link I talk a little bit more about my own brief encounter with a small group of dolphins I saw in San Diego: http://personalpen.orionworks.com/essay-toroidal-vortices-dolphin-speak.htm BTW, dolphins and primates recognize their own image when presented with a mirror. That is another mark of sentience. Regards, Steven Vincent Johnson www.OrionWorks.com www.zazzle.com/orionworks
