Animals and humans

I've started reading for my Linguistics term paper (the last one for now). The topic is an old favourite of mine, Apes and Language.

I'm sure most people have heard about the experiments that taught apes (mostly chimpanzees) some form of "language" - be it American Sign Language or coloured plastic chips. I first got interested in the subject when I was still in highschool, about three years ago, and back then I became so enchanted that I harboured the secret wish to go into this field of research. I'd still love the opportunity to spend time and get into closer contact with apes or monkeys, although unless I suddenly find my love for linguistics, that seems highly unlikely now. But my view on the subject has changed somewhat, and I've become more sceptical - and a lot less idealistic when it comes to "science". From Quantum physics to literary criticism, science is only very rarely a search for truth.

Most of the popular science books about these talking apes are written by the researchers who work with them, and this work requires close long-term contact with the apes. Often they are raised much like children, and you'd have to be willfully blind not to see how much they resemble us. At the same time, these researchers are surrounded by sceptics, who can often become very hostile in their criticism (scientists are a vicious bunch) and they have to struggle for funds. High personal involvement in their research is unavoidable, and very often these people sound like the proud Moms of pre-schoolers, boasting about their kid's achievements.

On the other hand, the critics are just as subjective and prejudiced. Chomskyan linguists, for example, cling to the concept that language is uniquely human, and that syntax will eventually explain the nature of the human mind. Apparently they fear that if syntax explains not the human, but the primate mind, their findings will be less relevant. Yet other scientists - and a large number of lay people - stubbornly insist that there is an essential difference between humans and animals.

So, my dear fellow laypeople: what's your gut feeling? Let's search for truthiness!

[Poll #1058330]

Animals and humans

I've started reading for my Linguistics term paper (the last one for now). The topic is an old favourite of mine, Apes and Language.

I'm sure most people have heard about the experiments that taught apes (mostly chimpanzees) some form of "language" - be it American Sign Language or coloured plastic chips. I first got interested in the subject when I was still in highschool, about three years ago, and back then I became so enchanted that I harboured the secret wish to go into this field of research. I'd still love the opportunity to spend time and get into closer contact with apes or monkeys, although unless I suddenly find my love for linguistics, that seems highly unlikely now. But my view on the subject has changed somewhat, and I've become more sceptical - and a lot less idealistic when it comes to "science". From Quantum physics to literary criticism, science is only very rarely a search for truth.

Most of the popular science books about these talking apes are written by the researchers who work with them, and this work requires close long-term contact with the apes. Often they are raised much like children, and you'd have to be willfully blind not to see how much they resemble us. At the same time, these researchers are surrounded by sceptics, who can often become very hostile in their criticism (scientists are a vicious bunch) and they have to struggle for funds. High personal involvement in their research is unavoidable, and very often these people sound like the proud Moms of pre-schoolers, boasting about their kid's achievements.

On the other hand, the critics are just as subjective and prejudiced. Chomskyan linguists, for example, cling to the concept that language is uniquely human, and that syntax will eventually explain the nature of the human mind. Apparently they fear that if syntax explains not the human, but the primate mind, their findings will be less relevant. Yet other scientists - and a large number of lay people - stubbornly insist that there is an essential difference between humans and animals.

So, my dear fellow laypeople: what's your gut feeling? Let's search for truthiness!

[Poll #1058330]