Can Dogs Really Show Empathy Towards Humans?

http://www.economist.com/node/21557721

by jkuria • 14 years ago

20 5 14 years ago

economist.com

excuse-me2• 14 years ago

>Similarly, apes have recently been documented consoling one another after conflicts

Apes have also been documented reading the Economist. Guess which family Homo Sap belongs to.

tzs• 14 years ago

The article mentions 15000 years of convolution. That's on the low end of the probable range. There is some good evidence for dogs being domesticated at least 30k years ago, and even some for as far back as 100k years.

There's a very good "Nova" episode on dogs that is well worth keeping an eye out for.

excuse-me2• 14 years ago

There is also a school of archeology that thinks the reindeer was the first domesticated animal - by Saami and Laplanders >50Kya

However I can assure you that current deer show no empathy for my garden

Zenst• 14 years ago

Interesting question and I'd say the answear is YES. Now can humans show empathy towards dogs? That is the question.

gooddaysir• 14 years ago

I had the similar thought that animals tend to be more empathetic and forgiving than humans. On many occasions I've seen my cats console each other. They have consoled me too.

The way us humans destroy the environment and wildlife with pollution, deforestation and urban sprawl, it's obvious we are unconsciously living out our nightmare on a global scale.

Can Dogs Really Show Empathy Towards Humans?

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