Reply #4: Relatives and Close Associates

[ignatzmouse]

I don't argue against some level of proto-consciousness in our closest relatives. I didn't address them as the discussion is complex. Some apes can recognize themselves in mirrors. Chimps do on occasion use simple tools. I try to make the distinction of analogical thought (metaphorical language rather than animal calls). Trying to sift out whether proto-consciousness provided the architecture for analogical thought or whether it is the other way around is an immense challenge. I suspect that they developed together and reinforced each other through advantage and adaptation. The opposable thumb provided a hand that could manipulate objects in the environment, and that potential for manipulation is a kind of analogy as well as providing a bare level of consciousness -- ("I can think to use my hand in a novel way to obtain what I want, therefore I sort of am.") Perhaps the same hand later served as early language via signing. The way certain objects are gripped or obtained can be mimicked to become a noun and a directive. (Fresh water = cupped hand.) Apes do appear to have a capacity for signing. I think it is, however, revelatory that human facial expressions have an enormous range of emotional reflection and symbolism built into the species that are inherently made and understood. No other animal is capable of much more than grimace and submission expressions. It is testament to a level of analogical mind that is not present in other animals.

Whether or not an ape has a sense of sharing and shame is also a matter of its advantage in a social group. Biologists will sometimes argue therefore that human ethics is based solely on survival adaptation. My point is that such a view is limited and only serves to bring us back into moral relativism. The same strictly biological views are also argued by those who wish to establish a hierarchy of nobility being served by inferiors or selfishness as a virtue. I argue that there is a difference granted by human analogical thought that moves beyond biological survival advantages and points toward enlightenment, a realization of all beings as centers.

As to altruistic dolphins, again, perhaps there is some level of proto-consciousness -- dolphins are used in some communication studies -- but, I believe we must be careful about assigning human traits in a projective way. Wild dolphins will also sometimes try to mate with human swimmers. I would not subscribe an understanding of love to them.