Can animals.....

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.....reason?

Some research results seem to indicate that the animal being researched did indeed display what we would call reasoning powers as applied to certain situations.

Various crow studies come to mind. You may want to google it -- there have been studies done on wild crows that show they seemed to be able to apply a reasoning ability to puzzles and maze structures, which was equal to that of a seven year old child. Crows can "think ahead" to results that may arise from tool use, etc.

I think they have found similar results in the greater primates also.

I would assume to a certain extent animals like dolphins or chimpanzees can, but abstract reasoning is probably impossible for an animal. Then again I probably have no idea what I'm talking about.

Can animals reason?

Not really.

A relative was pounding out several steaks for dinner and her Siamese cat was howling around her ankles for one.She shooed him away,and went back to pounding.A few minutes later she heard something fall in the bedroom.She went to investigate,and found a hat box that was on a shelf in the closet had fallen.There was no explanation why,but when she returned to the kitchen one of the steaks was gone.
I've watched my corgi fool the big dogs.If they had a treat or toy she wanted,she would go jump on the ottoman by the window and bark furiously like something was outside.Big dogs drop object of desire to run and look,corgi jumps off the ottoman and runs off with the prize.
I'd say there was some reasoning involved.

I feel humans frequently underestimate animals.

I had a cat who always knew when I was depressed. She would come on my chest, lie on it, and purr. She would also stroke my chest affectionately while she did this.

Awww...

Animals can understand the concept of fairness.

Animals can form complex social networks and carry out complex teamwork.

You can create a situation where working together is required to get food and some animals will understand this and successfully get the food.

/\ Yeah, but is "understanding" the same as "reasoning"? I'm not disputing you, I'm just curious.....

My friend once saw teamwork among some crows; some of the crows tried to distract a parent goose by pinching its bottom to make it turn around to them, while two other crows attempted to snatch the goslings in front of the goose.

The attempt didn't work in this particular instance but my friend was convinced he had seen a concerted effort at the execution of a plan by a team, with delegated roles.

Crows are ridiculously "thinking" beings, it's being found out more and more. There are other species that have been observed to have the same "aforethought" abilities.

I agree that we underestimate animals all the time and are not fully aware of what they are capable of or even of how similar they are to us. We are animals too and inevitably share many traits because what has been useful for our survival is actually a set of survival tools for them too, many species though not all.

Animals do have a sense of justice. It's obvious to me.