“If chimpanzees have consciousness, if they are capable of abstractions, do they not have what until now has been described as "human rights"? How smart does a chimpanzee have to be before killing him constitutes murder? What further properties must he show before religious missionaries must
consider him worthy of attempts at conversion?”
― The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
consider him worthy of attempts at conversion?”
― The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
“On the other hand, mere critical thinking, without creative and intuitive insights, without the search for new patterns, is sterile and doomed. To solve complex problems in changing circumstances requires the activity of both cerebral hemispheres: the path to the future lies through the corpus callosum.”
― The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
― The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
“Russell commented that the development of such gifted individuals (referring to polymaths) required a childhood period in which there was little or no pressure for conformity, a time in which the child could develop and pursue his or her own interests no matter how unusual or bizarre.”
― The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
― The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
“Like other mammals, they are capable of strong emotions. They have certainly committed no crimes. I do not claim to have the answer, but I think it is
certainly worthwhile to raise the question: Why, exactly, all over the civilized world, in virtually every major city, are apes in prison?”
― The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
certainly worthwhile to raise the question: Why, exactly, all over the civilized world, in virtually every major city, are apes in prison?”
― The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
“Significant change might require those who are now high in the hierarchy to move downward many steps. This seems to them undesirable and is resisted.”
― The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
― The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
Jeff’s 2025 Year in Books
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