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The instinct to want to help seems normal, natural; and examples such as this even seem to serve as a tool for reflection for the face of the modern state of hu

The instinct to want to help seems normal, natural; and examples such as this even seem to serve as a tool for reflection for the face of the modern state of humanity.

agumonkey 7y ago
right in time to debate specism I'm sure it's a conspiracy from the sea life lobby
MichaelApproved 7y ago
Perhaps but don't draw any conclusions from this animal because it's been trained by humans. Its behavior is not natural.
sandworm101 7y ago
Or perhaps the animal is so under-stimulated that it is trying to get a repeat on something it finds interesting. It could be just trying to reset the situation in hopes that it will happen again.
lm28469 7y ago
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Anthropomorphism https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Anthropomorphism
- w0utert 7y ago
  I always wonder why it sometimes seems that any kind of animal behavior that resembles human behavior needs to be rationalized away as anthropomorphism. Is it really that far-fetched to assume animals share at least some emotions and behaviors with humans? In the end, many forms of human behavior and emotions evolved over a long long time, and way before language and culture. Why could a Beluga whale not have also evolved behavior and emotions resembling altruism, for example?
  - lm28469 7y ago
    I'm sure some animals have behaviours similar to our altruism. I just don't buy that particular example as a proof of : > The instinct to want to help seems normal, natural; and examples such as this even seem to serve as a tool for reflection for the face of the modern state of humanity.
    - w0utert 7y ago
      Fair enough, that statement may indeed be overreaching a bit ;-)
wil421 7y ago
The whale escaped from some Russian military base and swam to Norway. There is nothing normal or natural about it. Humans caught the whale and taught it what to do for food. See runeb’s English link in another comment.

The instinct to want to help seems normal, natural; and examples such as this even seem to serve as a tool for reflection for the face of the modern state of humanity.

agumonkey 7y ago

right in time to debate specism I'm sure it's a conspiracy from the sea life lobby

MichaelApproved 7y ago

Perhaps but don't draw any conclusions from this animal because it's been trained by humans. Its behavior is not natural.

sandworm101 7y ago

Or perhaps the animal is so under-stimulated that it is trying to get a repeat on something it finds interesting. It could be just trying to reset the situation in hopes that it will happen again.

lm28469 7y ago

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Anthropomorphism https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Anthropomorphism

w0utert 7y ago
I always wonder why it sometimes seems that any kind of animal behavior that resembles human behavior needs to be rationalized away as anthropomorphism. Is it really that far-fetched to assume animals share at least some emotions and behaviors with humans? In the end, many forms of human behavior and emotions evolved over a long long time, and way before language and culture. Why could a Beluga whale not have also evolved behavior and emotions resembling altruism, for example?
- lm28469 7y ago
  I'm sure some animals have behaviours similar to our altruism. I just don't buy that particular example as a proof of : > The instinct to want to help seems normal, natural; and examples such as this even seem to serve as a tool for reflection for the face of the modern state of humanity.
  - w0utert 7y ago
    Fair enough, that statement may indeed be overreaching a bit ;-)

wil421 7y ago

The whale escaped from some Russian military base and swam to Norway. There is nothing normal or natural about it. Humans caught the whale and taught it what to do for food. See runeb’s English link in another comment.