"An objective knowldge of the human self will only be possible through contact with other mammals or with the inhabitants of other planets."
Carl Gustav Jung

Question:  do animals, including humans,
actually "choose" intelligently and if so,
what innate intelligence ^13link do they possess?

To paraphrase an intelligent being - Gene Wolfe -
". . . they cannot operate only by instinct, how did they first learn?
And how do they change with the changing conditions of Earth?
They must be continually thinking"

We are predisposed to consider homo sap as superior or ideal

Step back from that bias and check the data;
we may find that other lifeforms, alien to us, have great intelligence,
hidden only by our inability to read their communications.

We may be observed by beings equipped to make judgments ^14link

We are surprised by some higher animals' lack of aggression
compared with humans' aggressive behavior in similar situations.
Also by their willingness to communicate with us,
at great risk to themselves

MOST FOLK WILL BE OFFENDED BY THIS SERIES:
FEW HUMANS ARE TRULY IMPARTIAL :-

1) 'SCIENTISTS' FEEL IT THEIR `DUTY' TO DECRY INFORMATION UNKNOWN
TO THEIR MENTORS, AS MOST HAVE A STRONG, INDIRECT MOTIVATION
TO SUPPORT EXPLOITATIVE FINANCIAL INTERESTS, AS DO GOVERNMENTS;

See "Gov't moves to outlaw animal rights" and "Experiments to be kept secret" and "Retribution"

2) EVEN IDEALISTS & 'S.E.T.I' ENTHUSIASTS ARE INCLINED
TOWARD SPECIES CHAUVINISM: BIAS FOR THE HUMANOID;

3) MANY HUMANS IN THE AFFLUENT WEST ARE STILL MEAT-EATERS.
DISREGARDING MORALITIES, THIS MEANS THEY ARE NOT
MOTIVATED TO RE-EXAMINE ENTRENCHED ATTITUDES TO OTHER SPECIES.

Professor Lynn Margulis, of "Gaia" & previous and subsequent works, gives us concepts that can open our eyes to real world history
"symbiosis" - "co-operation" - "mutual trust."

This series presents the future for all organic, intellectual beings:
mutual altruist co-operation ^15link

We are preparing ourselves for the prospect - regarded by some as abhorrent, by others as an ideal - of contact with non-human beings from other planets, even of other galaxies.

Are we ready or even equipped?
Some implications are considered at
setigift2

Do we feel comfortable with our treatment - on Earth - of other beings ?

"A Nation worthy of respect respects its animal life - one that doesn't, isn't"
- Ghandi