Before There Was Avatar...
there were the oceans of Planet Earth. At least that's one way of reading what Live Science posted recently:
Dolphins are among several animals that use tools. But studies have shown they can do much more. Dolphins name themselves and they can recognize themselves in mirrors. They think about the future, can learn a basic symbol-based language, and behave more socially than was known. One dolphin taught to tail-walk in captivity later spread the trick to wild dolphins. Dolphins may even think about thinking.Non-human persons. An interesting concept. Especially since we have often had trouble seeing some of our own species as persons. Usually if they are different from us.
"The scientific research . . . suggests that dolphins are 'non-human persons' who qualify for moral standing as individuals," says Thomas White, professor of ethics at Loyola Marymount University.
1 comment:
Do you remember that book in the 70's, Day of the Dolphin? If I recall, the world was in an uproar 'cause dolphins acquired speech. One clergy person in the book pondered if this meant "that Jesus had died for dolphins too?"
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