do animals know they will eventually die?

[vej33]

is that the difference between the intelligence that separates Humans from less introspective creatures?

as humans we are aware of our mortality. whether that influences our lives or not is definitely up to the person.

but do animals instinctively know they will die someday?

stoned thoughts always appreciated!

[crabbyback]

is that the difference between the intelligence that separates Humans from less introspective creatures?

as humans we are aware of our mortality. whether that influences our lives or not is definitely up to the person.

but do animals instinctively know they will die someday?

stoned thoughts always appreciated!

We know that some animals recognize death and some can reason out "what comes next" quite well. Just one case in point - pigs going to slaughter; if the pigs further back in the chutes or queues see, hear, or smell what is going on up ahead, they begin to panic. That says to me, "they get it".

[SteenerTim]

Im guessing they do because all animals must experience another one of their species dying. They must have some sort of knowin that they don't last forever but i dunno, quite a good topic for discussion:thumbsup: Give me 2 secs, i'll give Dr doolittle a fone;)

Tim:rastasmoke:

[jimmy8778]

i think it completely has to do with the situation. if they are a house pet and they are just never around death. the only/first animal to die before their eyes, then i would say they are no more in the know that a baby who doesnt know either. though once they realize, especially if it is death in the wild where they will explore the body of the dead animal. and usually realize the gravity of the situation. When people who have more than one animal pets, if one of them dies, the other animals usually enter a grieving process that is physically noticeable. meaning i believe they understand what death is, but maybe not so far as to think they go anywhere, just that they are no longer moving and will not be moving anymore. and they sever the emotional ties to the dead animal and retain knowledge of the event. and that is about it. not much thought process. they understand that things die, but not so much the meaning or reason why it happens. Animals who are about to die also usually know, if its natural. dogs will stop eating and moving around as much, pretty much choosing the best place for them to die. its rather sad to witness.

[SteenerTim]

i think it completely has to do with the situation. if they are a house pet and they are just never around death. the only/first animal to die before their eyes, then i would say they are no more in the know that a baby who doesnt know either. though once they realize, especially if it is death in the wild where they will explore the body of the dead animal. and usually realize the gravity of the situation. When people who have more than one animal pets, if one of them dies, the other animals usually enter a grieving process that is physically noticeable. meaning i believe they understand what death is, but maybe not so far as to think they go anywhere, just that they are no longer moving and will not be moving anymore. and they sever the emotional ties to the dead animal and retain knowledge of the event. and that is about it. not much thought process. they understand that things die, but not so much the meaning or reason why it happens. Animals who are about to die also usually know, if its natural. dogs will stop eating and moving around as much, pretty much choosing the best place for them to die. its rather sad to witness.

good analogy... Ive always noticed, with dogs i have had in the past that have died anyway, that they always crawl away somewhere to die alone? This was mentioned in Donnie Darko when he quoted "Every living creature on this Earth dies alone"

[jimmy8778]

good analogy... Ive always noticed, with dogs i have had in the past that have died anyway, that they always crawl away somewhere to die alone? This was mentioned in Donnie Darko when he quoted "Every living creature on this Earth dies alone"

every creature besides people, and some other mammals though. most of the time they go off on their own a lot before death. is instinct. think about this. the survival of the group depended on not having a corpse laying in the living area, attracts disease and other animals to the corpse. so instinctually it made sense to distance yourself to die away from the group, the instinct is even present in many people, but the emotional and logical aspects cloud our instincts like many other things do as well.

[SteenerTim]

every creature besides people, and some other mammals though. most of the time they go off on their own a lot before death. is instinct. think about this. the survival of the group depended on not having a corpse laying in the living area, attracts disease and other animals to the corpse. so instinctually it made sense to distance yourself to die away from the group, the instinct is even present in many people, but the emotional and logical aspects cloud our instincts like many other things do as well.

Sweet man, ive never thought about it like that before, makes perfect sense though. I see what you mean about our emotions clouding our natural instincts aswell, i guess over the years this has just naturally occured..

Tim:rasta: