Since the 17th Century, people have studied how humans differ from
other animals. When our goal is to put the "simplest" animal at
one end of a continuum and humans at the other, we place every species
somewhere along that continuum. We may be limiting our discoveries by asking
the wrong question. We know we are different from other animals and so do the
animals.
So what is the question? We want to know if other animals think and if they are
aware of themselves as separate from others. Do they understand mortality? Are
they capable of sharing thoughts among themselves? Can they share thoughts and
feelings with us?
Research projects range from measuring problem solving skills in pigeons to studying
children who were raised without human interaction due to neglect. The results
are difficult to interpret.
Isolated children have been found over the centuries either as orphans or as
victims of extreme mistreatment. These children have a limited ability to speak
and have difficulty sharing their thoughts with us even after years of
extensive instruction. Does this indicate a lack of ability or do these
children not identify with other humans? Do we define humanity by the ability
to communicate something greater than immediate needs for food and comfort? How
can we deny that these children are human? Do we deny that they can think and
feel just because they do not learn to communicate?
Children raised in a family learn to associate important events
such as the sight of a briefcase with mother's impending departure. A baby cries
communicating his need to be with his mother. This communication gives baby a
better chance of surviving. Only after survival needs are met and a trusting
relationship develops does the child manipulate the tools in his
environment--including language--to communicate so much more than immediate
needs.
Children manipulate imitate words they hear or signs they see even
before they know the meanings, especially those associated with food or
desirable objects. At first, toddlers generalize words, perhaps labeling all
four legged creatures as "dog". Babysitters are accustomed to hearing
"no" when a baby actually means "yes". During the time that
baby uses "no" incorrectly, no one doubts
that he is discovering language. No one believes the baby is just repeating
sounds to get a treat.
Most parrots mimic the sound "hello" when family members
enter the house and "goodbye" when someone leaves. Every pet dog recognizes
the sound of the jingling car keys. Is this simply response to a stimulus, or
does the pet understand concepts of arrival and departure? Where do we draw the
line between what is learned to get what we want and what is communication of
thoughts or feelings?
Monkeys react to a mirror as if they don't understand it is their own
reflection as do adult humans that have never seen a mirror or photograph before.
Some of these people continue to be frightened of the mirror or of a photograph
even after its purpose is explained to them. Some non human primates and
elephants can learn to use a mirror to check their reflection.
In one experiment, chimps were taught by human caretakers to use
tools to open containers of food. They were also taught to use symbols to
"name" the foods as well as the tools. After training, the chimps
were separated by a window. On their respective sides of the window, one chimp
had the tools and the other had the containers of food. The chimps used their
symbols to request tools from each other appropriate for reaching food. They
also shared the food when it was successfully retrieved. Was this an elaborate
circus trick to get a treat or was it something more? Would the chimps have
learned to use the tools if they were never taught? We know that human babies
have trouble using tools, including language, if not shown the advantage.
The answer, for those who believe animals communicate among themselves and,
like humans, learn to communicate with other species, seems to be that animals
do have their own language and can learn other languages. For those who believe
that animals are only capable of responding to a stimulus for a tangible
reward, the answer is that these experiments are nothing more than elaborate
survival skills. The real question is how are the elaborate tasks that humans
learn and teach different from tasks that animals use to survive?
Check out the following web sites for more information....
Koko the Gorilla/Dr. Penny Patterson