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Apes share human ability to imagine (hub.jhu.edu)

submitted 6 months ago by NomNom@feddit.uk to c/science@lemmy.world

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[-] Kolanaki@pawb.social 34 points 6 months ago

I can't imagine that other animals don't have imagination. I mean, many of them have dreams. Are dreams not imagination running on autopilot?

[-] Petter1@discuss.tchncs.de 24 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Yea, you can not really predict the future, if you can not imagine. And without it being able to predict the future, a dog would never be able to be trained.

So, any animal that you can teach something through potential treat must be able to imagine, I would assume.

[-] Triumph@fedia.io 14 points 6 months ago

When my dog brings me a ball, drops it in front of me, pushes it towards me with his nose, and stares at it, I'm pretty sure he imagining me throwing it.

When I pick the ball up and he gets in a "ready to chase" posture, or alternatively runs to the other side of the room in preparation for catching it, I know he's imagining me throwing it.