Are we humans simply remodelled apes? Chimps with a tweak? Is the difference between our genomes so minuscule it justifies the argument that our cognition and behaviour must also differ from chimps by barely a whisker? If “chimps are us” should we grant them human rights? Or is this one of the biggest fallacies in the study of evolution? NOT A CHIMP argues that these similarities have been grossly over-exaggerated - we should keep chimps at arm’s length. Are humans cognitively unique after all?
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Are Human Beings Impossible To Ape?
A nice article in today's Daily Telegraph by Sanjida O'Connell. In a previous existence as primate cognition researcher, Sanjida claimed to have shown that certain primates had substantial grasp of "theory of mind". While the book is very skeptical on this point she has written a very fair and even-handed piece. IMHO!
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