Clever Corvids: using tools (Introduction)

by dhw, Sunday, August 30, 2015, 21:26 (3373 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: And other scientists in a different field tell us that although bacteria don't have the physical means to use tools as such, they still have the intelligence to solve problems. And yet for some reason, there are folk who insist that corvid problem-solving is "not programmed as an instinct", whereas bacterial problem-solving is. Strange, isn't it?-DAVID: Who said bacteria follow instincts in their behaviour? Bacteria use programmed biochemical responses. Instincts do appear to be programmed behaviour in conscious animals, but we don't know how it works.-Please explain how you can tell the difference between programmed biochemical responses, programmed behaviour, and instinct. And when corvids and bacteria solve problems, please explain how you can tell the difference between intelligent behaviour and programmed biochemical responses. Ah, sorry, you have already said you can't. You just happen to know that corvids are intelligent and bacteria are not.