Are we smart enough to judge the mind of animals? 2nd edition. Vaal de F.

For most of the past century, science was excessively careful and skeptical regarding the intelligence of animals. Researchers of animal behavior either did not think about their intelligence, or rejected this concept itself. Most went around this topic. But times are changing. We do not take place and how new reports appear about the complexity of cognitive processes in animals, often accompanied by video materials on the Internet as confirmation. What methods of communication do animals practice and do they have a semblance of speech? Can animals recognize themselves in the mirror? Are friendship and spiritual affection for animals? Do they lead warriors and peace negotiations? In the book, readers learn the answers to these questions, as well as, for example, that rats can regret the decisions they adop, crows make instruments, octopuses will recognize human faces, and special neurons allow monkeys to learn from each other's mistakes. Scientists openly talk about animal culture, their ability to empathize and friendship. Forbidden topics no longer exist, including in the field of reason, which was previously considered an exceptional affiliation of a person. The author talks about the history of ethology, about cruel disputes with behaviorists, and most importantly about the huge experimental work and observations of the natural behavior of animals. Analyzing the paths of the formation of mental processes during the evolutionary history of various types, France de Vaal convincingly shows that a person in this series is only one of many thinking creatures.