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Single Idea 22651

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 7. Animal Minds]

Full Idea

A dog's curiosity about the movements of his master or a strange object only extends as far as the point of what is going to happen next.

Gist of Idea

Dogs' curiosity only concerns what will happen next

Source

William James (The Sentiment of Rationality [1882], p.31)

A Reaction

Good. A nice corrective to people like myself who are tempted to inflate animal rationality, in order to emphasise human evolutionary continuity with them. It is hard to disagree with his observation. But dogs do make judgements! True/false!

Book Reference

James,William: 'Selected Writings of William James', ed/tr. Bird,Graham [Everyman 1995], p.31