RE: Tests show a human side to chimps

From: Wade T.Smith (wade_smith@harvard.edu)
Date: Wed Nov 15 2000 - 12:22:28 GMT

  • Next message: Wade T.Smith: "RE: Tests show a human side to chimps" 

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Subject: RE: Tests show a human side to chimps
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 07:22:28 -0500
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From: "Wade T.Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu>
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    Hi Gatherer, D. (Derek) --

    Due to the vagaries of email quoting, the following is mis-attributed. If
    I recall correctly, the quote given to me is really from Mark, but, it's
    only my memory saying that.

    >Wade: [nope....]
    >I basically agree with Derek on the limited need for a theory of mind. We
    >all have something of a 'default' theory of mind. We don't know what
    >'mind' is, but we all seem to assume that other minds exist. Despite
    >having any definitive idea of what mind is, 'mind' is generally assumed to
    >be uniquely human. There is some debate over the ability of chimps to
    >exhibit a theory of mind, but the combination of (1) a universal assumption
    >that mind exists and (2) universal inability to define what it is, produces
    >little more than an argument over the number of angels on a pinhead.
    >
    >Derek:
    >But doesn't your 'internalist' memetic stance require that you commit
    >yourself to a theory of the mind in which behaviour is based on stored
    >mental entities? I'm not sure you can be as agnostic about the mind as you
    >claim to be.

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