Dear Amalya Sukiasyan ,

I wonder if animals of the same kind have the same 'knowledge' (for example what food to eat, what to do when a predator comes etc) and whether this would have any bearing on your question, whether we could have something like 'run away from predator' is knowledge for gazelles whilst not for hedgehogs or electric eels which would make the knowledge universal (given that the relative element is specified and parametrised), or whether we should accept the different animal kinds as communities with their own knowledge and concepts of knowledge (leaning more on the relativist view of things). What do you think?

Best Wishes,

Haris https://www.heriforge.eu/

Dear Haris Shekeris,

Thank you for sharing your insights. Knowledge belongs to the sphere of epistemology, cognition, and perceptual capabilities, which are unique to humans. However, animals also, while not possessing judgment or reason in the human sense, can demonstrate cognitive capacities in their own way. They lack the neurological complexity, intellectual richness, and multidimensional strengths of human consciousness. With their circumscribed perceptions, which are constrained by the absence of linguistic patterns, the ability to think abstractly, and imagination, animals' knowledge presents an instinct-level capability, marked by varying struggles, strengths, and creaturely understanding.

Dear Amalya Sukiasyan ,

Sometimes I wonder whether humans, with no more reason than what their holy (and philosophical) texts say and the fact that they cannot communicate with animals, unjustifiable label themselves as the most advanced animals on Earth, or even as something above animals. However, specifically for knowledge, can we say that a honeybee's dance doesn't transmit knowledge about where the nice flowers are, or that an animal eating something rather than something else, does not know what is good for itself? I know that there is this discussion in epistemology about internalism and externalism (the KK-principle, that one has to know they know something for it to count as knowledge), however it feels to me sometimes that we just want to feel good about ourselves :)

Best Wishes,

Haris

(by 'we' i mean we humans)

Dear Haris Shekeris,

Thank you for your insights. Humans are far more developed than even the most advanced animals. Human consciousness, while not an example of cognitive perfection, reflects the multidimensional complexities of thinking, the capacities of reason, and the neurological intricacies of the brain.

Dear Amalya Sukiasyan , greetings, apologies for my disappearance. I guess we can agree to disagree. I think that (for example) elephants would understand the question (if posed in elephantish, which we don't speak yet) "What is the most developed species on Earth?" and of course they would answer "Elephants". Same with dolphins perhaps. But anyway, i have no proof of animal languages, so you can have this one :) (though take a look at this: https://www.earthspecies.org/ )

Dear Haris Shekeris,

I agree that animals have their own languages, which, however, significantly differ from human communication. Elephants and dolphins are indeed smarter than most animals, but the level of their intelligence remains only partially explored, and much about their cognitive abilities is still not fully understood.

Dear Amalya Sukiasyan ,

Thanks, glad we agree - i'd add though unexpected animals in this class like crows and octopus - that's why, in an unexpected way, science may one day conclude that cognitive abilities and different languages and cultures and philosophies (ok now i'm stretching it a bit, but why not?) are something widespread on Earth.

Best Wishes,

Haris