From: Ray Recchia (rrecchia@mail.clarityconnect.com)
Date: Mon 02 Jun 2003 - 09:07:58 GMT
At 06:52 AM 6/2/2003 +0000, you wrote:
> > No other animal has shown the capacity to recognize the
> > difference between what they know and what others should know.
>
>Every time - and it is far too often - I hear this kind of blanket appeal
>to establish the uniqueness and superiority of humans, I barf.
>
>There are tons and tons of anecdotal evidence of animals recognizing that
>another does not know of danger or disease. Why animals with senses highly
>attuned to the natural environment should perform a logical task while
>contained in a sterile, flourescent-lit room with no fresh air and the
>high-pitched whine of air conditioning, is beyond me. Even a roomful of
>some of the world's best cognitive scientists recently admitted in
>conversation that the reason monkeys fail on many cognitive tests is
>because they are often raised behind bars, without toys or parents, and
>without affection.
>
>There is something deeply suspicious of the repeated claims that This, no
>- uh - This, or maybe This, is what makes humans unique and superior. Why
>this desperate and persistent need to draw a sharp line in Nature, which
>has few, if any? My prejudice is that if researchers would concentrate on
>finding the same gradual evolution in cognition that they are so fond of
>seeing elsewhere, much would become clear to them.
I'd be interested in any specific anecdotes you might have. I was just
repeating the claim from the program. I tend to agree with your sentiment.
Ray Recchia
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