Many dogs and cats must listen intently to eleven plus
lessons. Some dogs, however, may feel that they have had their day and there no
longer is a reason to listen to interminable lessons and discussions.
In the ancient world opinion was divided on the question of
how much dogs can reason.
Chrysippus’s dog, however, showed strong ability with
multiple choice type questions. The dog was a hunting dog and sometimes came to
a three-way cross road. (We can call the roads a) b) and c) for the sake of argument.)
If the dog failed to pick up the scent on the first two
roads he would set off on the third road without further investigation. Did the
dog think:
It is not a)
It is not b)
So it must be c)?
Sadly the dog could
not talk so it could not justify its choice.
When your dog prick’s up his or her ears and wags his or her
tail at a certain point – do you, and your child, accept that the dog may be
right? Perhaps some of you may care test out Chrysippus’s theory?
It will certainly be no use trying an experiment with your
cat. The little animal would look at you with disdain – and return to sleep! No
clues there for your eleven plus multiple choice work!
