Monday, 01 November 2010
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Do Animals Commit Suicide?
I was thinking about this the other day, and I think that animals definitely do commit suicide. I always hear stories of pets that die shortly after their master does through starvation and whatnot. I watched a documentary in Anthropology on Jane Goodall and her work with chimpanzees, and one chimpanzee starved himself to death out of depression after his mother passed away. He wouldn't leave her body for days. My boyfriend says that only self-aware animals can commit suicide, like primates and dolphins. I don't know if I agree with that.
Take for example, my cat Sam. I used to have a cat named O'Malley when I was a child, and he grew very close to Sam. They fought like siblings, but would sleep together at night. Their rambunctious ways caused my parents one too many headaches, but they were loved dearly. Sadly, O'Malley had to be put to sleep after becoming very sick. After his death, Sam changed. My parents remember him crying and being very moody. Later, we ended up with three more cats (and a Chihuahua). Sam has never shown interest in any of the other cats, and O'Malley's death was over ten years ago. He's quite the loner.
Say what you want, but I firmly believe my cat was depressed and knew his brother was gone. He didn't commit suicide, but depression is one of the causes of suicide. And I don't think cats are considered self-aware animals.
Do you think animals are capable of committing suicide? If so, is it only self-aware ones that do? Do you think there will be animals in heaven?
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- From: andrialauren@xanga
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- About Me: I'm Andi, and I'm your average not-so-average teenage girl. I feel average, but others say I'm quite unique. I haven't accomplished much, so, you be the judge of that. I'm currently attending RIT as a psychology major, and I'm about to celebrate my two year anniversary with my wonderful boyfriend. I try to be open-minded, so forgive me for any transgressions. I have actually been reading Xanga blogs for about two years now but never bothered to really start my own site until now. I love Xanga <3
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Comments (18)
...What kind of nonsense discussion is this supposed to spark?
Actually, I think scorpions do commit suicide, but don't hold me to it. Just something I heard, that they were the only animals that would.
I think animals have the ability to commit suicide. I have read a story about a dog that lost her puppies. So she wouldn't eat her food and she laid around. Until she made it up to the roof of the building and jumped off.. Its sad D:
I feel certain that not only animals but to a certain extent plants have some kind of self awareness. Not the same as humans. But something. We had our old dog put down last week, it was a tough time for all of us...but surprisingly enough my other pup (2yrs) did not seem to grieve. One day before we put her down. Skeeter went to her and touched noses, went all around her and touched her with his nose...then he went on with his life. He had said his good-bye. Watching it, it was as obvious as a friend that had come to pay his final respects to another old friend. Of course your boyfriend will just say it was my imagination but he may be the kind that needs to see to believe. I am the kind that feels like something has to be believed to be seen.
And if animals aren't in heaven....how does the lion lay down with the lamb?
Humans are animals.
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When my mom passed away, her cat was utterly heartbroken. She refused to eat. She eventually starved herself to death.
Yes, I do think animals can commit suicide -- not like we can, but they aren't provided with tools like guns and knives. I think there's a lot going on in their minds that we don't think about because we don't believe animals to be capable of such thoughts.
I truly believe that animals can give up on living especially when they lose their master's. Is it suicide? I'm not really sure. But either way it breaks my heart. Animals simply love with all their hearts no matter what you do to them.
And yes, I believe animals do go to Heaven.
I think the real question is, if an animal commits suicide, does it go to hell?
@Mcon@xanga - True.
@SexyGamerGirl@xanga - @SirNickDon@xanga - That question was added on by the revelife editors. I posted this to revelife cause I didn't really know where else to submit it. I'm not much of a believer in heaven or hell, but I suppose if they existed it would be a very thought-provoking question.
@thepsychoticraccoon@xanga - Very true. There is no absolute way of knowing for sure what goes on in an animal's mind.
@stumpcomics@xanga - An interesting one- not everyone thinks animals are capable of committing suicide. I was curious to see what others thought.
@andrialauren@xanga - idunno about suicide, but if cats(dogs etc.) don't go to heaven - i ain't goin either
@SirNickDon@xanga - HA!
To suggest that animals can commit suicide is to assume two things: one, that an animal is in possession of itself (that it's life is its own) and two, that an animal can make the conscious choice of "I am going to kill myself." I don't think either apply in the case of animals.
Another way to look at it is through the lens of murder. If I murder someone, I take a life that does not belong to me but belongs to that person and to God. When I murder myself I take my own life, which is mine, but I also take it, in a sense, from God to whom it also belongs. To suggest that an animal can commit suicide is to suggest, I think, similarly; that an animal possesses its own life.
If that is the case, then can animals sin? I think not. Only humans can sin; after all, it was that God came down to this earth to defeat sin and to do so took on human flesh, not chimpanzee, dolphin or any other creature. Animals can behave in ways that result in their self-death, but not by any kind of conscious choice but purely by accident.
My immediate thoughts, anyways.
@Ancient_Scribe@xanga - Interesting. I don't necessarily agree with it, but I'm glad you commented! I love hearing different viewpoints. No wonder I'm a psychology major.
Self-awareness of certain animals has been/is being researched. Plenty of mammals (and some birds, octopi and others) can recognize themselves in the mirror- evidenced by reflective behavior, such as using the mirror to groom, as opposed to attempts at examination of or communication with the reflection. Also, I read a few psychology journals on a species of bird that managed to demonstrate a concept of zero. And I haven't even touched on primates. So self-awareness is definitely a legitimate prospect for some animals.
Also, if any creature can act in a way that leads to death, wouldn't that be considered suicide regardless of sentience?
Also, that picture is a lie. Those animals should be trying to eat each other.
@Babylons_Crowing@xanga - I read about all of those too. It's fascinating to me, especially learning about primate behavior. And you're right, it's definitely considered suicide anyways.
I didn't put that picture up. Revelife did. I also didn't ask if animals went to heaven, so don't blame me.
Hummm I think they can. Kind of. lol
I think that's true. Animals have feelings just as strong as we do so I think when something tramatic happens in their life (loss of owner or sibling) they go through depression too.
I studied abroad this summer in London and while I was gone my parents looked after my cat Oliver (who at the time was just coming out of kittenhood). Oliver had never been away from me for longer than a day or so, so being away from me that long got to him. My parents said for the first few days that they watched him he wouldn't eat, and slept curled up near a shirt I had changed out of the day I left. When I arrived home, he followed me everywhere!
@Ancient_Scribe@xanga - So who "owns" the animals' lives? What makes humans any higher than animals? And, animals can make a conscious decision in "I'm going to bark/meow/neigh/whatever right now", who's to say they can't say, "I'm sad, I don't feel like eating."?
I don't think animals die because they necessarily mean to. I know they know what it's like to love and lose a fellow animal they loved and be miserable. They show similar signs of depression that humans tend to in the face of a grievous loss.
What is a non-self-aware animal? o_O
If I believed in heaven then yes, I would believe animals would go to heaven.