The Real Anthropomorphism Fallacy - Blog, March 14, 2006
The Real Anthropomorphism Fallacy
Geoffrey Hamilton
Blog, March 14, 2006
One of the greatest blunders of modern science has been the claim of
anthropomorphism. Animals do, act,
are, can be just like humans in so many
ways it is the basic assumption by scientists in medical research and evolutionary theory.
Yet despite all this, somehow that assumption is called a fallacy when it suits
these scientists.
The claim has many faults not least of which is irrelevancy.
If you are looking for truths, what does it matter in itself if there are
differences or similarities in various beings in the view of these scientists?
Everything, every human being has differences and similarities. Darwin claimed every person is a mutant to some degree. There is nothing that is not dissimilar or similar according to the context you throw it in.
So what?
Why must
they then constanty imply, when they don't state it bluntly, that humans are better?
Whether it's intellegence, emotion, or some combination, scientists must run for
this cover for no other reason than guilt. What they feel guilty about is the
often thoughtless uses they put animals to. But even when the uses are thoughtful and the guilt is less
strong, they become more bold in their claims and more ridiculous - like Descarte they even claim animals
have the feeling and intelligence of a jack-in-the-box.
Usually some new cartesian, or other, will cite their stock assertion against animal
rights sympathizers or someone just using common sense. Rarely, if ever, is the charge of
anthropomorphism ever argued. It is usually used just in a mocking tone, as in "You poor fools,
I'm not fooled". These scientists don't even know why they do it. When not feeling guilty
sometimes they just want to feel superior to both animals and other humans.
Darwin is the patron saint for many of these same scientists
even though he argued animals are like
humans, especially emotionally. Yet somehow these blowhards can still disrespect Darwin and
call his ideas pejoratively anthropomorphism. The other thing they do is dismiss as anecdotal the overwhelming
numbers of cases of animal's manifest emotion and intellect laden motivations
during actions for themselves or in helping people. They call that scientific observation a fallacy for no other reason than fear.
Typically they never acknowledge a single
problem with their basic assumption - that people are best - and swagger on behalf of their team
like Kilgore in Apocalypse Now over the bodies of 'dirty Cong'. Maybe it
time they got back to their main business
of figuring things out and not trying maintain a humanist religion.
GRH
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