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The question of animal minds asks whether it is meaningful to describe a non-human animal as having a mind.

Discussion of this subject is frequently confused by the fact that some schools of philosophy and psychology (e.g. radical behaviorism) would question whether one should ascribe mind to anyone else (or even to oneself). Such an approach would naturally deny the existence of animal minds.

However, even if one accepts that it is meaningful to talk about minds in one's own species, it remains an open question whether it is meaningful to talk about minds in other species.Though an animal "mind" features many of the same principals as a human mind, such as a basic sense of good and wrong, a sense of self protection, and a primitive ability to see anothers actions (good or bad)as a result of their own. In practice, the debate focuses on a few subjects within the field of animal cognition, particularly consciousness, self-concept, theory of mind, and tactical deception.

[edit] See also

• The Mind of an Ape