Crucial Difference Between Chimp and Human Behavior
Aug 11, 2020 18:02:51 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Aug 11, 2020 18:02:51 GMT -5
Crucial Difference Between Chimp and Human Behavior
Those who have made it their career to study chimpanzees in their natural habitat are fond of mentioning just how similar chimp behavior is to that of humans. After all, they have observed that chimps murder just as humans murder. Chimps steal just as humans steal. Chimps wage war just as humans wage war. Chimps rape just as humans rape. So to such research scientists, they don't seem so different after all. But is this professional assessment accurate? Does similar behavior actually constitute a genuine qualitative similarity between humans and chimps?
In order to answer that question we need to beyond a superficial observation and consider the difference underlying such behavior. True, both humans and chimps are being impelled to act by similar urges or emotions, such as anger, lust, envy. However, are not merely driven by emotion. Humans have detailed reasons which are rationalized as justified while the Chimp does not.
For example, asked why a human murdered someone and the minute details concerning the motivating reasons will be provided. In stark contrast, we can't ask a chimp because a chimp has never even pondered its own motives but has merely gone along with the compelling emotions which impel him into action.
Not that it would benefit the victims in the slightest since getting seriously maimed or murdered is getting murdered and getting raped is getting raped regardless of whether reasons are provided or not. For example, Vlad the Impaler's victims would not have cared for his explanations while he gazed up at them sadistically enjoying their pain. Neither would the victims of the Count De Sade nor of jack the Ripper.
So are Chimps behaviorly similar to humans? The vast difference in self-awareness and ability to ponder their own motives creates a vast gulf between ad makes such a claim qualitatively ludicrous.