The Fawn

[Cinjin]

Would you feel sadness?
Why do so many of us feel sadness over the death of such a creature? Seriously, why?

I imagine that only you could describe why you mourned. It's an intensely private thing, isn't it?

It just seems odd to me. Why do humans feel sadness over the death of an animal we have never known? Scientifically and biologically speaking, why would we care at all? It's not like these animals were ever pets. I've seen my sister tear up when a lobster was attacked by another lobster after the pincher band accidentally came off in one of those restaurant aquariums. Why? What is it that makes many many humans feel sadness (as I did) over an animal it has absolutely no connection to and even has occasionally eaten?

I find it rather odd is all.

[rexbeccarox]

It's because we've adopted (or adapted to) empathy. I think it's human to feel for another animal when it suffers.

Also, I have a puppy who gets SO upset when there's a dog in any kind of distress within a mile of our house. She also gets agitated if either of our cats (neither of whom gives a shit about her) is upset. She's so innocent and so empathetic. It's really sweet.

[Autumnlicious]

Maybe there was a way to save it. Maybe attempting to would be worse.

Perhaps some of the sadness is regret over the timeline not taken? Over the thought of pruning out a time line where the fawn had a shot at life?

Your experience is a reminder of our mortality, fragility and finite nature of life.

[Angrboda]

Mirror neurons? A builtin feeling of protectiveness towards juveniles of species that resemble us?

My understanding is that maggots eat only necrotic tissue, so it's likely they weren't the cause of the wound. Wikipedia suggests that's not necessarily the case.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maggot_therapy

[The Grand Nudger]

It just seems odd to me. Why do humans feel sadness over the death of an animal we have never known? Scientifically and biologically speaking, why would we care at all?

Chiming in with others on the issue of empathy. Just because we have this wonderfully built empathic machine doesn't mean that we're any good at using it, or that it actually knows wtf it's doing. You could consider empathy towards the fawn as a pleasant misfire of your "empathic engine".

That, and that our brains are hopelessly drug addled. Any excuse to put some "empathy" in your veins is a good one - from their pov - as it were.