What makes humans different than non-human animals? We clearly have much in common with the great apes; I’ll use them as a counterpoint.
There’s definitely evidence that apes can make fairly long term plans, but humans invest in 401(k)s, train years for the olympics, etc. This is a difference in degree and not kind, just like many other ape/human differences. It makes me wonder, are humans just supercharged simians? Human exceptionalism would demand a difference in kind.
There are a few “difference in kind” attributes of humans of which I’m aware: the ability to purposefully teach, to direct the development of the surrounding environment, and many more. All the examples which come to mind seem to relate to imagining a certain end and controlling variables in order to bring it about. This seems to be the key trait which the great apes lack.
So does this mean that manipulation in service of imagination (let’s call it imagulation!) is the great delineator? Do all ideas of human exceptionalism hinge on this ability?
It’s interesting to think on how this could relate to the idea of man being created in God’s image. Certainly “imagulation” is something deeply associated with God. I really am trying to give evolution a fair shake, to try and avoid bias in my exploration of naturalistic origin explanations, but these sorts of observations make it very difficult. I can easily understand an imagulating creator making imagulating beings, but environmentally-directed mutations don’t seem to be a likely imparter of such an ability. Maybe someone can explain? Help! 
UPDATE 5/25/08: I recently came across this page on the Great Ape trust website. None of the videos surprised me very much, as they all seemed like behavior I’d seen before and could easily label as behavioral conditioning. All the videos, that is, until I saw the “novel sentences” video where a bonobo, Kanzi, displays behavior that I could only describe as “imagulating”! I’m officially placing an extra tally mark in the “Evolution” column.
This actually quite surprised and delighted me; what an amazing thing to see! Philosophically however, I’m not quite sure how to group the “differences in kind” between great apes and humans anymore. If anyone out there has an idea as to what the through-line may be, I’d be excited to hear it.
Posted by poppies
