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t-writescodeyesterday at 4:33 PM3 repliesview on HN

I’m glad we’re doing this research. It makes me wonder how much time and potential we’ve wasted over the years actively assuming non-human animals were just rote automatons.

It seems like a meaningful amount of science has been spent on systematically dismantling pre-existing prejudice over the last hundreds of years (and thousands in some cases and cultures).

  All humans are human.
  Babies can feel pain.
  Plants feel.
  Animals think.
Just … So much wasted time on what should have always been seen as true.

I get that some cultures already thought some of these things, but many of these were sadly not prevailing.


Replies

chickensongyesterday at 11:36 PM

> It makes me wonder how much time and potential we’ve wasted over the years actively assuming non-human animals were just rote automatons.

It's pretty easy to see that most things above plankton aren't rote automatons. Anyone claiming otherwise just has an agenda to sell.

adjejmxbdjdnyesterday at 4:43 PM

I don’t believe there’s any evidence behind plant’s feeling or thinking.

Other than that you’re right.

show 2 replies
mcswellyesterday at 7:27 PM

11 distinct calls is something a rote automaton could easily cope with. So I don't think this study proves much of anything about birds' cognitive abilities.