Universal Consciousness in the animal kingdom and intelligence in many advanced species.

[Vinayaka]

Our lot always had a creche running, they took turns so 4 or 5 cows always corralled the young ones.

There is a lot of social intelligence in many animals. We had two groups: the smaller dairy herd, and the larger beef herd. The dairy group stayed near home whereas we herded the beef cattle to pastures some 10 miles away. In fall when the beef herd came home there was a battle between the two top cows. Tribalism in cattle.

 

[ChristineM]

There is a lot of social intelligence in many animals. We had two groups: the smaller dairy herd, and the larger beef herd. The dairy group stayed near home whereas we herded the beef cattle to pastures some 10 miles away. In fall when the beef herd came home there was a battle between the two top cows. Tribalism in cattle.

Ours was dairy.
What i found interesting is that despite the creche, there was nothing that could take a calf orher than maybe a poorly trained pet dog .

 

[Madsaac]

From what i understand about instinct, is that it is reaction to stimuli…there are certain patterns of behaviour, to make a human or other non-human animal “react”. Such actions are deemed to be innate, as well as being “natural“.

Consciousness or self-awareness are natural too.

What I don’t see, is why you think to put them in spectrum?

The spectrum of being fully self aware/making choices compared to doing things without thinking, and instinct may be like that.

And it seems the more 'intelligent' the animal the more aware it is.

 

[gnostic]

The spectrum of being fully self aware/making choices compared to doing things without thinking, and instinct may be like that.

And it seems the more 'intelligent' the animal the more aware it is.

That’s not what I meant about spectrum.

The question is why you would put them on extreme & opposite ends of each other.

Having instinct doesn’t mean that it don’t require consciousness. That’s not true. Instinct cannot occur without consciousness.

Nor does having consciousness means it would be intelligent. Here, you are doing the opposite of the above: you seems to be equating as if the two different things as if they are the same things. Consciousness doesn’t necessarily lead to intelligence…I am not saying it can’t if you noted that I used the word “necessarily”, which means “it can” or “it cannot”.

Intelligence is not so much about consciousness, but being able to learn.

Take for instance, you have 2 children, let’s say they are both 4-year-old twins, and you were teaching them to read and do basic arithmetic. One of them seems to be grasping more quickly the other twin. Does that mean the other twin is not conscious?

You are making faulty assumptions about consciousness. Consciousness and intelligence are not entwined to each other.

 

[Madsaac]

That’s not what I meant about spectrum.

The question is why you would put them on extreme & opposite ends of each other.

Having instinct doesn’t mean that it don’t require consciousness. That’s not true. Instinct cannot occur without consciousness.

Nor does having consciousness means it would be intelligent. Here, you are doing the opposite of the above: you seems to be equating as if the two different things as if they are the same things. Consciousness doesn’t necessarily lead to intelligence…I am not saying it can’t if you noted that I used the word “necessarily”, which means “it can” or “it cannot”.

Intelligence is not so much about consciousness, but being able to learn.

Take for instance, you have 2 children, let’s say they are both 4-year-old twins, and you were teaching them to read and do basic arithmetic. One of them seems to be grasping more quickly the other twin. Does that mean the other twin is not conscious?

You are making faulty assumptions about consciousness. Consciousness and intelligence are not entwined to each other.

I think any living being, including humans can make a decision without being aware or 'conscious' of it. We do it often.

And I think animals do it more then humans because it's just part of their need to survive. This may be called instinct.

The spectrum I refer to would be broad from humans to basic life forms. Humans brains are more developed, therefore more intelligent and this means they can make more complex decisions that require more awareness or consciousness. So that's why I think the level or intelligence relates to the level of consciousness, they are intertwined.