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How much of human like attributes are true similarities between apes and humans, and how much is projection? It is hard to tell, as we have a great tendency to
by yters 9y ago
How much of human like attributes are true similarities between apes and humans, and how much is projection? It is hard to tell, as we have a great tendency to project our internal experiences on somewhat similar external forms. E.g. kids thinking of dolls as real people, à la Calvin and Hobbes.
- psyc 9y agoThis tends to be the default objection in every discussion of the inner experience of non-humans. If a person has a mind to second guess interpretations of animal behavior as anthropomorphicizing, I can’t imagine what would satisfy that doubt. But I also don’t see what privileges the “it’s projection” stance over “they’re similar to us.”
- yters 9y agoIt's a hazy line, but there are clear examples. E.g. robots at Disneyland are projections, other human beings are similar. It appears to be anthropomorphizing when, for example, an ape learns to associate buttons with spoken words is considered to be "understanding" human language.