Do Animals Think?

There's an interesting article at psychology today that asks the question "Do animals think?" Based on the facts the article points out, to think, means to have a consciousness. Now there are certain requirements in order for an organism to be conscious on one's self. There are three components to consciousness: Language, self awareness and theory of mind. Experiments were done with chimpanzees to test whether or not they full filled criteria in order to have true consciousness.

Chimps have always been able to learn sign language, but in the example given, one had been taken out on a lake full of swans. The Chimp never was taught the sign for swan, but instead could sign "waterbirds." Examples of having self awareness because were demonstrated in the next example. A chimp was in a room with a mirror where it could see itself on a daily basis. One day the chimp was taken away and anesthetized, and a red mark was drawn on its forehead. When the chimp was placed back in its room, it immediately noticed the mark and made attempts to scratch it off. And finally, theory mind was displayed when a chimp watched as a trainer took 4 cups and filled one of them with food. The trainer then left the room, and came in with another trainer, who had not seen this. The trainer that poured the food pointed to one of the cups, and the trainer who was not in a room pointed to another cup. The chimp chose the cup that the trainer pouring the food pointed, exhibiting theory of mind, assuming the trainer that poured the food would choose the cup that indeed had food in it!

Does this mean that animals can think? The evidence is very fascinating.

Source: Psychology Today