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Darwin's example of animals thinking abstractly

This from Descent of Man (henceforth DoM). When a dog recognizes another dog a great distance away, it doesn't think of this or that individual, but of dog in general.

This example is weak: you might be unable to distinguish whether THIS dog is Fido or Rover, but you are still thinking of THIS dog at this place and time, not of being-a-dog as common to many individuals at different places and times. The latter and not the former constitutes abstract thought.

Sorry, Charlie.

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