RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Abstract of Cobbe, The consciousness of Dogs. CUL-DAR87.79. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 3.2022. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volumes CUL-DAR 87-90 contain material for Darwin's book Descent of man 2d ed. (1874-1877).


[79]

Q. Review Oct. 72 [vol. 133] p. 420. The consciousness of Dogs.

Miss Cobbe says – it has been assumed that a Dog never thinks "I am a dog" – "Such self-consciousness, the sense of moral responsibility, & the power of forming abstract ideas, are in truth, it wd appear 3 phases of the same thing – three things which must exist together or not at all." – I might introduce abstract idea of danger or prey – case of fowls cry from Houzeau – for Hawks & land enemies. – I ought to add after about dreaming, for we have no reason to believe that dreams may produce single memory – like walking [2 words illeg] which have transfixed dreamer all.


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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

File last updated 25 September, 2022