[Karyn]

Originally Posted by Ayoka

First of all...Philosophy major here...lol

I think there's a difference between being able to solve problems and having a conscience...(i.e. knowing right from wrong) I would suggest that dogs can solve complex problems (so can crows, dolphins and other animals) but if a dog was presented with the dog equivalent of a wallet full of cash - say a steak - on the street/sidewalk - he wouldn't ask himself where it came form or if was someone elses or wether they needed that steak to stay alive or feed their children - he'd just eat it! A human - even if they decided to keep the wallet would know they had taken something that belonged to someone else and would likely not divulge how they came into the money to others.

Have you been reading the papers lately? Enron - Jeff Skilling is appealing the verdict, the mortgage crisis? Some people don't know right from wrong either. The only wrong is when they get caught. I would not bet too much on human ethics. There are many instances of cross species altruism.