Octopi? Pah. Cuttlefish are fucking brilliant.
Just how smart is an octopus?
11–20 of 329 posts
Re: Just how smart is an octopus?
#12Animals have always seemed to me smarter than humans in some (important) ways. Squirrels, for instance, are extremely resourceful and can survive in conditions few, if any, humans could. If that isn't being "smart", I don't know what is.
In any case, the smart/brain weight ratio is not in humans' favor here, that is for sure!
Re: Just how smart is an octopus?
#13Way to make me feel worse about eating them.
Well, why not stop eating them?
This is the route I took. I'm a meat-eater and eat plenty of it (including pork, which someone else mentioned in this thread), but I decided to stop eating octopodes. It feels a little funny compared to people who avoid meat in general or eat all of it, but at least for now it's the only thing I don't eat.
Re: Just how smart is an octopus?
#14Animals have always seemed to me smarter than humans in some (important) ways. Squirrels, for instance, are extremely resourceful and can survive in conditions few, if any, humans could. If that isn't being "smart", I don't know what is. In any case, the smart/brain weight ratio is not in humans' favor here, that is for sure!
Using analytic thought to problem solve? That's probably a pretty common definition. And most animals don't do that.
Re: Just how smart is an octopus?
#15Way to make me feel worse about eating them.
Last time I was in Hawaii, I had the opportunity to interact with an octopus in the wild. I will never eat one again.
What happened?
Was it afraid of you? I've never seen an octopus in the wild so I'm guessing it must be an experience. Would you mind sharing a bit more of what happened?
Re: Just how smart is an octopus?
#16Animals have always seemed to me smarter than humans in some (important) ways. Squirrels, for instance, are extremely resourceful and can survive in conditions few, if any, humans could. If that isn't being "smart", I don't know what is. In any case, the smart/brain weight ratio is not in humans' favor here, that is for sure!
Where do squirrels live that humans don't?
Re: Just how smart is an octopus?
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, why not stop eating them?
They taste ridiculously good. However I am conscious of it, and I rarely have it.
Also, they are part of the few edible maritime species whose populations are increasing (http://www.humanosphere.org/environment/2016/05/rapidly-chan...).
Re: Just how smart is an octopus?
#18Animals have always seemed to me smarter than humans in some (important) ways. Squirrels, for instance, are extremely resourceful and can survive in conditions few, if any, humans could. If that isn't being "smart", I don't know what is. In any case, the smart/brain weight ratio is not in humans' favor here, that is for sure!
Using analytic thought to problem solve? That's probably a pretty common definition. And most animals don't do that.
This may be true (but what do we know?). Animal don't solve problems for fun, though; those that they do have to solve, they solve pretty well, it seems.
Re: Just how smart is an octopus?
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
They taste ridiculously good. However I am conscious of it, and I rarely have it.
Also, they are part of the few edible maritime species whose populations are increasing ( http://www.humanosphere.org/environment/2016/05/rapidly-chan... ).
Interesting!
Re: Just how smart is an octopus?
#20Animals have always seemed to me smarter than humans in some (important) ways. Squirrels, for instance, are extremely resourceful and can survive in conditions few, if any, humans could. If that isn't being "smart", I don't know what is. In any case, the smart/brain weight ratio is not in humans' favor here, that is for sure!
Where do squirrels live that humans don't?
In habitats untouched by humans, duh! Oh, wait...