strange headache
Banned
I've always shared the Aristotle's belief that humans are "rational animals" in the sense that language, not biology is what defines human nature. We differ from animals in our ability to express and share abstract ideas. As such, our beliefs about good and evil are derived from our mutual ability to communicate. Humans who are not part of society, either degrade into animals or ascend to godhood. We all know that the former is more likely than the latter.
In that context I stumbled over this very interesting video about Koko, a Gorilla that was supposed to understand human sign language. Koko was some kind of media sensation that led the general public to believe that primates are capable of complex linguistic interactions. Robin Williams was known for having a deep bond with Koko and often referenced her in his stand up comedy.
The video gives us a fascinating insight into our own human nature, our deeply rooted desire to find our equals and how scientific bias and media sensationalism can lead to some pretty horrific misconceptions.
The video touches on the fundamental debate between Skinner and Chomsky. Skinner believed that we learn language through behavioral conditioning. We receive rewards for using language right and we are punished for using it wrong. Chomsky on the other hand believed that language is an innate human ability, something that cannot be simply learned through imitation.
For a very long time, Koko seemed to suggest that Skinner was right. Language is nothing more but copying behavior, something that can be instilled through conditioning. But recent research made clear that Koko never really understood the signs she was using. She merely cycled through signs until she got the reward that she was looking for. In other words, Chomsky and Aristotle were right that language is something very specific to human nature.
What I find interesting about the story is that it also tells us a lot about how wishful thinking and idealism can lead us to severe misconceptions about reality. As a human species, we feel alone and want to make meaningful connections with other life-forms. What we failed to understand is that we did not try to approach Koko as what she was, a Gorilla, but that we wanted to make her more like ourselves. We ultimately ended up trying to make Koko more human instead of respecting the Gorilla's own nature.
The video finally touches upon the moving story of Helen Keller, a deaf and blind woman who learned to write and speak at the turn of the century. For her the gift of language was a magical thing and something she ended up cherishing immensely:
Our good intentions brought suffering upon Koko by anthropomorphizing her. In one instance for example, Koko is used to spread an environmental message that is totally fabricated. The people who were supposed to take care of her, ended up turning her into a business. What the world is and what we want it to be are two very different things. Confusing both often leads to even more suffering.
So let us use our special talent for good, let us use our language to inspire instead to condition.
In that context I stumbled over this very interesting video about Koko, a Gorilla that was supposed to understand human sign language. Koko was some kind of media sensation that led the general public to believe that primates are capable of complex linguistic interactions. Robin Williams was known for having a deep bond with Koko and often referenced her in his stand up comedy.
The video gives us a fascinating insight into our own human nature, our deeply rooted desire to find our equals and how scientific bias and media sensationalism can lead to some pretty horrific misconceptions.
The video touches on the fundamental debate between Skinner and Chomsky. Skinner believed that we learn language through behavioral conditioning. We receive rewards for using language right and we are punished for using it wrong. Chomsky on the other hand believed that language is an innate human ability, something that cannot be simply learned through imitation.
For a very long time, Koko seemed to suggest that Skinner was right. Language is nothing more but copying behavior, something that can be instilled through conditioning. But recent research made clear that Koko never really understood the signs she was using. She merely cycled through signs until she got the reward that she was looking for. In other words, Chomsky and Aristotle were right that language is something very specific to human nature.
What I find interesting about the story is that it also tells us a lot about how wishful thinking and idealism can lead us to severe misconceptions about reality. As a human species, we feel alone and want to make meaningful connections with other life-forms. What we failed to understand is that we did not try to approach Koko as what she was, a Gorilla, but that we wanted to make her more like ourselves. We ultimately ended up trying to make Koko more human instead of respecting the Gorilla's own nature.
The video finally touches upon the moving story of Helen Keller, a deaf and blind woman who learned to write and speak at the turn of the century. For her the gift of language was a magical thing and something she ended up cherishing immensely:
Our good intentions brought suffering upon Koko by anthropomorphizing her. In one instance for example, Koko is used to spread an environmental message that is totally fabricated. The people who were supposed to take care of her, ended up turning her into a business. What the world is and what we want it to be are two very different things. Confusing both often leads to even more suffering.
So let us use our special talent for good, let us use our language to inspire instead to condition.
