[Vision2020] Animals are People, Too: Overcoming the Myth of Human Uniqueness

[Donovan Arnold]

Ted,
 
It can only be argued that human intelligence isn't necessarily a long term strategy for survival because humans have not been around very long to test such a theory. So far, human intelligence has lead to a higher quality of life, and an ability to spread the species on every continent on Earth, and a few off if we wish it. If the primary goal of a species is to remain unchanged and survive, then the "rock" is most highly formed species on the planet. 
 
The only species that don't destroy themselves are the species that are so weak other species or the environment destroy them. I would rather humans hold their own destiny in their own hands, then it be left to the actions of another species or a change in the environment. 
 
Intelligence is the only useful tool Humans have, for better or for worse. But I think it is the best one to have. 
 
Best Regards,
 
Donovan
 
 
 


--- On Sat, 4/11/09, Ted Moffett <starbliss at gmail.com> wrote:


From: Ted Moffett <starbliss at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Animals are People, Too: Overcoming the Myth of Human Uniqueness
To: "nickgier at roadrunner.com" <nickgier at roadrunner.com>
Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2009, 3:51 PM




I was once astonished when a professor of physics at the U of I insisted that human intelligence has not been proven to be of survival value.  I pointed out the arguments that are obvious: that our intelligence allows us to adapt to and protect ourselves in environments all over the Earth, even in space, produce food in huge quantities, defend against predators and protect our young, block disease, treat injuries, and so forth.  But this professor, a mild mannered and moderate man, calmly insisted that long term the evidence is not yet in on this "experiment" in human intelligence.  
 
The belief in human superiority (human personhood shared only with God, as moral and spiritual beings with a "rational soul") over other species is sheer vanity, based on anthropocentric judgements defining "intelligence" and what is or is not important in life.  Other species share "human" qualities of mind, as Gier's column argues, but these qualities are a product of the evolution of life, present to some degree before homo sapiens sapiens appeared, I think.  And as the U of I physics professor pointed out, human intelligence has yet to be proven to be of long term survival value.  Indeed, it may be that in most cases throughout the universe life forms that evolve human-like intelligence coupled with tool making and the resultant technologies, destroy themselves.  
 
The erroneous and common belief that humans are separate from and above other animals and Nature, rather than animals evolved from, dependent upon and integrated into the Earth's ecosystems, with bacteria as essential to human survival as air, sunshine and water, is an example of the limitations of human intelligence.  Human behavior and perceptions are often irrational and unconsciously controlled, just as with other animals.  
 
A primary reason that human intelligence may not result in a long term survival advantage is that as the technology for war becomes vastly more destructive, so has the capacity to destroy ecosystems and deplete resources, partly a result of our "success" as a species leading to over-population, which of course may increase the probability of war as an over-populated world competes for depleted resources and a degraded environment and food production capacity.
 
Given human behavior at this point in history, unless we truly become more like the "free willed conscious rational beings" that optimists laud, emotional irrational impulses to engage in tribalistic warfare (nation states, extremist ideologies and religions can be viewed as defining tribal loyalties leading to war), and lack of awareness of our true position on Earth as a species dependent upon the eco-capital of Earth's biological systems and diversity of life, will result in a future bringing the long term value of human intelligence in question.  
-----------------------
 
Straw Dogs
Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals
John Gray

http://www.macmillanacademic.com/Academic/book/BookDisplay.asp?BookKey=6117801
 
"'Humans think they are free, conscious beings, when in truth they are deluded animals,' writes London University economics professor Gray in a series of brief and intriguing mini-essays." 
-----------------------
Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett
 
 
On 4/1/09, nickgier at roadrunner.com <nickgier at roadrunner.com> wrote: 
Good Morning Visionaries:

This is my radio commentary/column this week. The full version with a picture of Irene Pepperberg and her amazing parrot Alex is attached.  I used to be a big brain species chauvinist, but I can no longer draw a line between ape persons and parrot persons.

I hope I don't spoil the culinary joy of any you carnivores out there today.

Nick Gier

ANIMALS ARE PEOPLE, TOO:
OVERCOMING THE MYTH OF HUMAN UNIQUENESS


In his book "On the Soul" the Greek philosopher Aristotle proposed that there were three types of souls, and the human fetus evolves organically from one to the next.  During the first trimester the fetus is a "nutritive" soul, a life principle that we share with animals and plants.  After three months the fetus develops a "sensitive" soul: it now has the capacity, unlike plants, to move and to perceive.

After six months the human fetus adds a "rational" soul on top of its nutritive-sensitive base.  (Explosive fetal brain development from 25-33 weeks confirms Aristotle's speculation on this essential point.) This is a faculty that humans share only with God, and this makes them superior to all the other beings on earth.  Only God and humans can be called persons; and only they can be moral and spiritual beings.

For nearly 2,400 years this view of human uniqueness has dominated Judeo-Christian religion, morality, and law.  Aristotle's influence is seen in St. Augustine's view that the abortion of a first trimester fetus was not murder, and Thomas Aquinas' belief that the fetus did not become a person until late in pregnancy.  Canon law on this essential point was not changed until 1917.

Many cracks have begun to appear in the hard shell that has enveloped the claim of human uniqueness.  Dolphins have 40 percent more neo-cortical area in their brains than we do, and they have rich emotional and mental lives. At the Dolphin Institute in Hawaii, Louis Herman has taught his four dolphins to understand sign language.  One day Herman asked two of them to make up a new trick on their own.  The two dolphins dove and within seconds exploded out of the water, circling on their tails, and spouting water like synchronized fountains.

Dozens of unemployed Asian logging elephants now have second career as painters.  Most of the paintings are abstract, but trainers have taught them to depict natural scenes as well.  Most amazingly, some have actually done self-portraits.  Selling for $350-$750 each, these pachyderm art works have raised $100,000 for elephant rehabilitation.

The mental and emotional achievements of our primate cousins are well known and so impressive that the Chimpanzee Collaboratory has formed to promote chimp personhood.  As Harvard lecturer Steven Wise argues: "If a human four-year-old has what it takes for legal personhood, then a chimpanzee should be able to be a legal person [too]."

In addition to learning sign language (including making up new words) and teaching it to their young, chimps have been observed making tools and using herbal medicines.  In a fairly simple computer memory game, a chimp, seemingly without much concentration, can remember all nine numbers in a random sequence while the sharpest human subjects remember only one or two.

If Aristotle were come back for a visit today, he would advisedly make an amendment to his theory: chimps, gorillas, dolphins, and whales are persons and as such have a serious moral right to life.  But this may still be a case of big brain species chauvinism, and Irene Pepperberg's African Grey parrot Alex is the key witness.

Alex of course had the proverbial bird brain--the size of a shelled walnut--but over 31 years Pepperberg carefully documented Alex's amazingly rich mental and emotional life.  Under strict laboratory conditions Alex, when asked to combine seven colors, five shapes, and four materials, could identify 80 different objects.

Just like Washoe the Chimp, who called ducks "water birds," Alex made up "yummy bread" for cake. Because one needs lips to say a "p," Alex improvised for an apple calling it "banerry," a combination of banana and cherry.  While in the laboratory with other parrots, he was constantly criticizing the others for their poor pronunciation, repeatedly saying "speak more clearly!"

Emotionally, Alex would respond to Pepperberg, not repetitively or arbitrarily, but specifically and appropriately, such as "What's your problem?" and "I'm going to go away now."  His last words to the love of his life were "You be good, I love you."

A recent experiment with dogs did not require language for scientists to conclude that they had a sense of fairness.  At the Clever Dog Lab at the University of Vienna, scientists placed two dogs side by side and commanded them to offer a paw.  Initially, one received a piece of sausage for the correct response, and the other got a piece of bread. When the reward was withdrawn from one dog, she not only stopped offering her paw, but turned away from the scientist in disgust.

As opposed chimps placed in the same circumstances, the Austrian dogs did not perceive the vegetarian option as a slight.  Primatologist Frans de Waal has also found that a capuchin monkey refused to trade pebbles for pieces of cucumber when his companion was given a grape instead for the same task.

In 1992 while on sabbatical in India I gave up eating beef, pork, and chicken. My decision was based primarily on a choice of a healthier diet rather than any strong belief in animal rights. This new evidence for animal personhood should force all of us to rethink what is now become the Myth of Human Uniqueness.

Nick Gier taught philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31 years.



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