Thought without Words

Abstract

MAY I demur to the Duke of Argyll's statement that monkeys and dogs have no true reasoning powers? Long and careful attention given to the action of animals consequent on true reasoning power, has led me to an opposite conclusion. I do not trouble you with instances, or could give very many; and I have frequently seen reasoning power exercised after obvious thought over the best course to pursue. Then, are animals speechless among themselves? I think not, and believe they speak freely to one another at needed times, in their own language. And I certainly with my own domestic animals can understand in a certain sense their language. I clearly know what they ask for, or what they wish to call my attention to, from the tone of the voice and its modulations, and this is, I assume, language as regards them. On the main question, I should hold with Prof. Max Müller from my own personal experience.