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Animal Quote by John Rogers Searle

“these points can be made clearer by calling attention to the deontic status of institutional phenomena. Animals running in a pack can have all the consciousness and collective intentionality they need. They can even have hierarchies and a dominant male; they can cooperate in the hunt, share their…” quote by John Rogers Searle
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““these points can be made clearer by calling attention to the deontic status of institutional phenomena. Animals running in a pack can have all the consciousness and collective intentionality they need. They can even have hierarchies and a dominant male; they can cooperate in the hunt, share their food, and even have pair bonding. But they cannot have marriages, property, or money. Why not? Because all these create institutional forms of powers, rights, obligations, duties, etc., and it is characteristic of such phenomena that they create reasons for action that are independent of what you or I or anyone else is otherwise inclined to do. Suppose I train my dog to chase dollar bills and bring them back to me in return for food. He still is not buying the food and the bills are not money to him. Why not? Because he cannot represent to himself the relevant deontic phenomena. He might be able to think “If I give him this he will give me that food.” But he cannot think, for example, now I have the right to buy things and when someone else has this, he will also have the right to buy things.””

John Rogers Searle

About This Quote

Source Article: Mind, Language, and Society, John Rogers Searle, 1995

Institutional phenomena create rights and duties that non‑human animals cannot grasp because they lack deontic understanding.

In simple terms: Animals can’t understand concepts like marriage or money.

Key Takeaway

Recognize limits of animal cognition.

Themes

ethics social theory philosophy

Mood

critical inquisitive

Type

philosophical theoretical

When to use this quote

  • law
  • economics
  • education
  • animal training

Key Concepts

deontic logic institutional facts

Questions to Reflect On

  • Can institutions be simplified for broader understanding?
  • How do cultural differences affect institutional concepts?
A Different Perspective

Humans also struggle with abstract institutions.

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