Dr. Frans de Waal - The Feelings of Animals

Science journalist Lone Frank speaks with professor Frans de Waal, who is doing research into non-human animals and non-human animal behaviour at Emory University i Atlanta, Georgia, among other places.
The interview touches upon issues like whether non-human animals are feeling in the same way we are, whether they for instance can feel love, jealousy and empathy and whether they can act outright evil.
Source: www.dr.dk/DR2/D...
For more information about animal sentience, see for instance The Cambridge Declaration of Consciousness: www.care2.com/c...

[@stevesmith1102]

As a non-specialist, but already quite familiar with de Waal's earlier books, I find this extraordinarily thought-provoking.

[@bumpinugly4985]

Steve Smith I liked his books too.

[@search895]

Great Interview. My way of thinking has been always similar to De Waal's. I been probably influenced by him indirectly through biology and psicology readings, but i never had big problems understanding his views on humans and other animals. It always makes me eyeroll than most of the people have trouble accepting those observations that make total sense.

[@efraimcardona8452]

"Humans are animals so I like them too". Brilliant man.

[@kittylove685]

what an incredible man, what a wonderful primate!!!! I WANNA BE FRANS DE WAAL!!!!

[@stevemartin4249]

Fantastic stuff here!!! Many of the same observations and anecdotes I heard from him in an NPR interview more than a decade ago.

[@h0wud0in1]

I can beliee noone has said something. Just listen to the interviewer. Is she 8 years old??

[@jayarava]

Take away idea: "thoughts are not separate from emotions... basically you cannot think without emotions, because the emotions make you attach value to certain outcomes... so the two are not really separate... most emotions are adapted to produce an outcome that is good for you.

[@officeamsterdam9240]

True, without emotion, no need to do anything

[@jeovanabenitocondori3858]

Humans are animals,but with the faculty of language.Moral and feelings make the difference.

[@carolegyptienne]

Great and insightful

[@nicolareddwooddforest4481]

No, feelings like shame are there in animals as well, just not in such a complex state. What is shame? Shame is basically a feeling of guilt, knowing that one has done something to someone else, either intentionally or unintentionally. When a dog play bites for example too hard and the person or other puppy would squeal, then the play biting puppy will feel sorry for the other being in pain and he will also feel guilty that he himself had caused it. Puppies will then try to comfort the other.

[@janpaweii3115]

reconsilation sur l'oreiller MDR haha i lost on that one

[@bumpinugly4985]

Why would you ask nothing but questions about humans? What about the chimps and bonobos he studies? Human uniqueness is a given so don't worry about it.

[@gert.korthof]

I viewed the 1 hour interview 'Dr. Frans de Waal - The Feelings of Animals' with great interest. At the very end of the interview de Waal says: "Oh, I like all animals, I could have worked with birds, or cows for that matter. ... . But I really like all animals." I really like animals? I found out that Frans de Waal admitted and defended eating meat: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6KxlWiLeLKdgrM I assumed that somebody who wrote extensively about empathy necessarily is also an empathic person. But I was very wrong. The same holds for Lone Frank, who seems to care for "the feelings of animals", but told me: " I like animals but I eat meat". What a bad joke. What a cruel person.

[@scottgreen132]

If a bear ate my son, would I seek revenge on it? No. Would I want to? Yes. Animals eat other animals. Humans are highly evolved animals. We are part of the circle of life and we eat life and one day will turn to dust or be eaten and become part of something elses life.,

[@redpillpusher]

so are you cool with cannabilism? what if another person ate your son? after all that would just be "animals" eating "other animals" as you put it. see the problem with your statement is that its too simplistic and ignores the very aspect of the biological origins of morality that frans de waal is tackling and hence exposes what could be construed as his own inconsistencies in his moral framework. there are many people who love dogs, cats, birds other primates but yet is okay with the obscene and "inhumane" treatment of cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, etc for consumption. how do you parse the ethical treatment of one group of animals to another group of animals?

[@JohnDoe-zy6tm]

Gert Korthof i love animals. My favorite is steak. But I love bacon and hotwings also.

[@computerjantje]

I think this guy is way way overrated. To me, a studier of wolf and og behaviour for over 25 years, this landsman of me is asuming so much (mainly in his books) and using all kinds of research to justify his thinking. Let me say it right: he does know a lot about ape behaviour but he also puts, to my opinion, way too much personal interpretation on top of that. And even that is not that bad but he is not doubting enough, i miss he being critical even a little about his own thinking. But the credit he gets and the people following him without critics is what worries me the most. And even more basic: I read two books he wrote and watched a few videos now and I get a very bad gut feeling about him :)

[@SJ23982398]

You got some examples ?

[@queen_eldf]

I think if we make more love, and solve problems with it like the bonobos do, then we wouldn't make war

[@arcadealchemist]

you only feel empathy for those who you feel are a bennfit to you, if someone is in pain and seems unusful they will be left to die *Fight of Flight*

[@thechallenge293]

Arcade Alchemist Thats not true at all.

[@bumpinugly4985]

The Challenge Its sort of true. Empathy and compassion overall are logical, especially for social animals like all primates are.

[@ricardoafonso7884]

Not impressed with this gentleman, his biggest life contribution was "conflict resolution" in monkeys? How does that help humanity in any way? What's the point of studying animals if we don't relate to humans? Oh well, just another academic wasting his life

[@stevemartin4249]

LOL ... seems ironic sarcasm is a wasted art nowadays. Good post Ricardo!

[@stevemartin4249]

Hi srzent ... I am just guessing. If indeed, Ricardo is to be taken at face value, then his ignorance of the fact that humans are social primates, and triangulating the behavior of genetically closely related primates is crucial to understanding human nature and formulating policies ... puts him at the level of the former Bush administration or Flat Earthers. My reading him as ironic tongue in cheek, is my only choice, if I am to accept him as either educated or sane. But it will not be the first time I have been wrong ;-)

[@JurijFedorov]

Why does all science have to help humanity directly? Let's not study anything outside our solar system then.

[@AnarchistPoop]

You are a piece of garbage. The fact is; if other animals feel like us, they should not be treated as they are. Is that clear enough, dumb shit?

[@meprimate]

Not impressed? The arrogance of ignorance.