tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210801374268491851.post5840243276953832520..comments2023-06-27T10:29:18.615-04:00Comments on Nature and Culture: The Great Ape Project: Projecting Culture onto NatureJim Tantillohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520467623399679472noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210801374268491851.post-17656961143971575052012-07-11T23:59:16.537-04:002012-07-11T23:59:16.537-04:00This is definitely one of the most difficult topic...This is definitely one of the most difficult topics to discuss...well, ever. Just to add to the list of articles, there are many others that concern granting animals' human rights and one of the most popular debates is regarding dolphins.<br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-17116882<br /><br />Thank you for such a thought-provoking post, Brooke. While reading this, I can't help but think back to the seal videos we watched today. One of the main reasons such videos are so appealing is because of the "cuteness" factor. The videos showed baby seals, which, I feel, activates some sort of "parental" instinct in the viewer - the Bambi syndrome. In the Great Apes BBC article, I see hints of the Bambi syndrome. The first argument is that apes are 99% related to us, therefore they should share the same rights that we have. I hate to be the cynic, but it seems to me that that 1% makes a whole lot of difference. Based on my background knowledge of animal behavior, apes and humans do share many characteristics and behaviors, but we also have so many differences. For instance - and perhaps one of the most notable differences - human relationships are so much more complex than that the great apes. Some apes only have male-male bonds, or female-female bonds. The bonobos, which if I recall correctly have the most complex web of connections in the apes, still cannot match the humans'. I am especially interested in this detail because I commonly link emotions to relationships - emotions such as love, hate, compassion, emotions that are so deeply attributed to humans. To me, there is a direct correlation between human-human relationship and emotions. If the great apes do not have as intricate relationships as we do, then do they have emotions as complicated as ours? Do they have emotions at all? <br /><br />I am also skeptical about the idea of giving the apes (or dolphins) human rights because of their intelligence level or ability to identify's one self or perform logical thinking. Intelligence is dependent on the development of the brain, and, from my studies I have learned that the development of the brain differs from species to species, or even animal to animal, depending on the environment (although there are genetic restrictions). Take for example ravens. Ravens have been proven to be capable of using logic to solve problems, of distinguishing individuals (other ravens AND humans) and attributing knowledge to them (they know that humans/ravens are also smart). Ravens are far from humans in the evolution tree, yet they possess qualities that are very human-like. Should we grant ravens human rights, as they can think <i>like us</i>?<br /><br />I actually just realized something:<br />It seems so wrong of me to isolate each trait and attack it. The great apes and the dolphins are not like humans because of individual traits, but because of the combination of all these qualities. I really am not sure what to think anymore. I started writing this comment being an <i> opponent </i> of the suggested human rights idea, but now, I'm not really sure. I'm stuck in the middle.<br /><br />Someone care to add on? Perhaps start a heated, inspiring debate?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5210801374268491851.post-47766527608538553152012-07-11T20:20:32.528-04:002012-07-11T20:20:32.528-04:00Interestingly enough, I found an article that brin...Interestingly enough, I found an article that brings to light the abilities of the great apes. This article demonstrates how it is entirely possible for bonobos to possess human qualities. It further supports those in favor of granting rights to these primates, as it ultimately reveals that these creatures possess the capabilities of higher mark of culture (fire), than ever previously believed. <br /><br />http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2080050/Now-thats-chim-PAN-zee-Meet-monkey-fry-burgers.htmlSarah Poisnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11381815970335033231noreply@blogger.com