Hi, Everyone!

Time for my two cents.

It appears that today we have to question everything we do.  It seems that we have to meditate and contemplate every action, for fear that someone or something my be either harmed or offended.  I don't know about you, but at times I get tired of this.  Who knows, maybe some day we will be even afraid to mow the lawn!!

As for me, I will continue to collect and study my molluscs as I always have.

Malacologically yours from sunny Chejudo, Korea,

Ron


On Wed, 29 May 2002, William Corey wrote:

>
> Interesting question.  This is posed as a philosophical question about which
> we may speculate, and it is just as well, as we cannot know this for certain.
>  Perhaps one day, someone will figure out a way to graph the electrical
> activity in a neural pathways within the primitive molluscan nervous system
> and compare it to the pain response in higher animals and then, one could
> postulate a pain response.
>          Since we cannot know for sure, those who find this to be a
> tantalizing puzzle may freely philosophize.  As for me, I think that Mollusks
> probably do sense something as they do respond to predatory threats and
> irritations, but, it is possible that as their capacity for thought (as far
> as we know!) is limited, perhaps their experience of pain is not as intense
> as with other higher animals with more complicated nervous systems.
>         One thing we may agree on: Life Loves to Live....and will do
> everything possible to fulfill its innate sense of this essential Instinct.


__________________________________________________________
Get your FREE personalized e-mail at http://www.canada.com