Time Magazine’s latest publishing “What Animals Think” could mark a tremendous development in our long and complicated relationship with the rest of the animal kingdom. While this article did have me writhing with anger during certain parts, there are many elements that placated me back into civility with the intent of focusing on the progress and potential positive impact an article like this could have on the world.
The article within is aptly titled “Inside The Minds of Animals: Science is revealing just how smart other species can be- and raising new questions about how we treat them.” The article itself, by Jeffrey Kluger, is well written and very interesting while easy to follow. Besides for the opening introduction, where the author has the pleasure of meeting Kanzi, a booboo (cousin to the chimpanzee), the entire piece is a narrative of scientific theory and studies based on the observation and analyses of animals in captivity (with a few brief and scattered observations of animal behavior in the wild).
Kluger opens the article with his visit to the Great Ape Trust in Des Moines, Iowa, where Kanzi has lived since 2005. Kanzi was born at Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, which is one of the most notorious animal research centers known for cruel and unusual treatment of its animals. (Ever since the release of Frederick Wiseman’s Primate, which was shot at Yerkes and detailed the horrific practices that take place in animal research labs, it is extremely difficult to obtain any sort of video footage whatsoever from these types of facilities.)
My qualm with Kanzi’s situation and a lot of the other examples provided in the article is that all intelligence is being compared to human intelligence. So if Kanzi can learn human language and how to point to things, this proves his intelligence, and moving ahead, defines his capacity for feeling. Also, it is not like Kanzi walked up to the Trust in Iowa, made friends with everyone and initiated that on his own accord, he wanted to learn human language and communication. No, quite the opposite in fact.
He was born into captivity, used for scientific research, shuffled around to different research facilities before arriving in Iowa. He was used mostly for studying language development at the different facilities and based upon his rapid learning curve and ability to develop linguistically in a manner that impressed his captors, he was heralded as a “superstar” and not vivisected, poked, prodded, and murdered. This perhaps is the most telling sign of his intelligence. Kanzi recognized that in order to survive, he must play their game, and excel at it. Only then, will he be allowed to live and live comfortably, though not in his natural habitat. But he will be able to eat his favorite cherries and onions and drink lukewarm cups of coffee.
I do understand why he used the example of Kanzi to open the article. We as humans need to see and feel that human connection to other animals in order to see them as more than pets, property, food, and entertainment. We need to see them take care of their young and communicate with us in a way that lets us know they recognize and are interested in us. We humans are an egocentric folk who need to be accepted and constantly acknowledged. Seeing Kanzi in more of a human light opens more people up to the idea that animals are intelligent beings capable of love and respect (oh the irony!).
Kluger references the older thought processes employed by Descartes and the Bible to justify the constant mistreatment of animals at the hands of humans. Descartes spread the idea that “The reason animals do not speak as we do is not that they lack the organs, but that they have no thoughts.” While the Bible kept it short and sweet issuing a declaration that humans were given “dominion over the beasts of the field.” Well, as we are being ushered into a very different world facing an environmental catastrophe and disease rates hitting epidemic numbers, it may be time to rethink our philosophies.
Kluger does an excellent job covering the usual suspects in determining intelligence levels: brain size and weight, cerebral cortex development, use of tools and other cognitive function, and self realization. The big surprise here is that we as humans do not even have the biggest brains in relation to our body sizes. So, ha! The Etruscan shrew takes the prize on that one.
Kluger gives dynamite examples of crows and hyenas using tools and powers of reasoning to accomplish certain tasks. In the mirror test, orangutans recognize the bracelet on their wrist and give it a good shake in front of the mirror. As for the caring and feeling of love and loss, elephants mourn their dead and monkeys would opt for extra fruit to share with their loved ones if given the choice. I am hesitant to rely solely on these examples as they were done in controlled experiments in captivity (save for the elephants being observed in the wild). If you were locked up in a room with a one-way mirror, chances are you would act differently due to unease and natural instincts directed toward self-preservation.
Lastly, Kluger references Peter Singer’s 1975 book Animal Liberation throughout the article. Singer is a bioethicist from Princeton University and is given credit for launching the animal-rights movement at this time. Singer is a fantastic representative for this movement and a great spokesperson for animal rights activists everywhere. His combination of science and ethics coupled with his levelheaded practical approach to what are usually very explosive issues allows both sides to listen with open ears and minds. Unfortunately for a lot of people this issue is very black and white, as it is for me. Animals are not ours to mistreat and abuse; in fact, they are not ours at all. They belong to the Earth, as do we all. But I do believe that Singer is navigating that gray area (where many often find themselves confused and complacent), showing people the error in their ways without totally alienating them. We’ve still got a long way to go, but we are making huge advances everyday. Focusing on the positive while doing our best to eliminate the negative.
Editorial based on: Inside the Minds of Animals
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2008759,00.html#ixzz0wz8D9yeu
Side note: Reading Time is great because I always learn a new word or two! In this article I discovered the following two words to add to my vocabulary:
berm
Pronunciation: \ˈbərm\ Function: noun: Date: 1704
1 : a narrow shelf, path, or ledge typically at the top or bottom of a slope; also : a mound or wall of earth or sand <a landscaped berm>
2 : the shoulder of a road
rheo·stat
Pronunciation: \ˈrē-ə-ˌstat\ Function: noun Date: 1843
: a resistor designed to allow variation in resistance without breaking the electrical circuit of which it is a part
By Holladay Allen
Native Foods Café Tribe Member
Buy to Let Property Investment? Instant money and instant benefits, that’s what makes it really popular these days.
Posted by: Alden | 08/18/2010 at 10:01 PM