[Skybird]

More and more animals are beign given the status of being "sentient" beings, latest example: squids. While it was long assumed that fishes do not feel pain, this is no longer a view accepted by every biologist. And our old understanding of bird'S intelligence has seen a revolution in past 30 years or so, and led to a remapping of our understanding of the bird brain. Theiur density in neurosn is much higher than that of apes, mammals, our brains, and so even some bird species' tinier brain mass can show up with intelligence performances and social competences as we usually only see in Bonobos, chimps, humans, etc. - think of parrot species, raven-species, kiwis...

And human babies, from around 18 months on they can recongise themselve sin mirrors, we know that form the Rouge-test: a coloured dot is placed on the face of the baby and then it gets a mirror, when it looks into the mirror, it uses its hand to remove the spot in its real face, not in the relfected image. First primitive differentiations between "me" and "the other" are formed already before that age. Verbal competence to refer to oneself is formed at the end of the second year. Autobiographic self-understanding and self-related memory-reflection forms up from 3rd and 4th year on.


Its obvious to me that there is a clear link between these mental performances, and compexity of neural structures. The brain developes, so do its performances. No brain: no performance.


I have given up to say or think in terms of "its just an animal". The word "just" in this sentence often is not justified, and undeservedly derogatory.

Treat living beings with respect, and kindness. Thats a general ethics. That includes hunting and lifestock farming. I made the experience often that the kindness I gave to an animal feels as if I gave it to myself, independent from the answer of the animal.



Or take the sqiurrels in my garden. They do not seek my closeness, they avpoid me, but I see them on video making heavy use of the water and the nut bar and all that I do to help them over the year and especially winter. I feel good when I see them using all that, and I enjoy that they are in good health, and well-fed, and strong in ohysicla appearance. That is a satisfaciton I gain without me needing to "own" the other being.


How can you keep your love? Let it free to go as it likes. No ownership involved, nor needed.