Reclassification of Chimpanzees??

[MrFun]

Interesting National Geographic article I came across -- here's the link.

National Geographic Article

What is anyone's take on this?

[JohnT]

People are getting upset about this and I don't have the slightest idea why. Doesn't exactly replace us from the top of the food chain, you know.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by JohnT
People are getting upset about this and I don't have the slightest idea why. Doesn't exactly replace us from the top of the food chain, you know.

Because some people are not comfortable with seeing ourselves as an animal species? Maybe that's why -- and you're right, such close-minded opinions seem ridiculuous.

[JohnT]

Well, if it looks like an animal, moves like an animal, and eats like an animal, it is likely an animal. Talk about denying the senses of one's own eyes!

[MrFun]

Originally posted by JohnT
Well, if it looks like an animal, moves like an animal, and eats like an animal, it is likely an animal. Talk about denying the senses of one's own eyes!

yep

[FrustratedPoet]

yep x 2

[Az]

sure, humans are animals. doesn't mean that all animals have rights, though. just humans.


we had a thread on this.

[chequita guevara]

If they are reclassified as humans, will we still be able to experiment on them, keep them in cages, etc? How will the law relate to a different branch of humanity?

[Az]

I had the same question. we reached a conclusion in the other thread. the conclusion was that they're not humans.

[SlowwHand]

I don't know that one can make the blanket statement that man is an animal.

Look around ACS. Quite a few vegetables represented.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I don't know that one can make the blanket statement that man is an animal.

Look around ACS. Quite a few vegetables represented.

Are you saying that humans are not really animals because we are sentient beings?

[MrFun]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
If they are reclassified as humans, will we still be able to experiment on them, keep them in cages, etc? How will the law relate to a different branch of humanity?

I guess this is where some of the controversy comes from.

[JohnT]

Originally posted by MrFun


Are you saying that humans are not really animals because we are sentient beings?

I'm pretty sure he's just making a dig at some of us.

[SlowwHand]

Vegetables, as in mental apparatus not functioning.
Not as in, rooted.

Jeez. You Iowan's.

[CerberusIV]

This sounds like a scientist bidding for his next research grant by being controversial.

Classification is not a precise science and there is rather more to it than simply how close the DNA of two species are. The skeletons of chimps are closer to gorillas than to humans in many ways and for most species the bones are all there is, no DNA. If you start to insist on DNA above all else for classification then that is effectively saying that most extinct species where there are only fossils cannot be classified. Basically this proposal is extremist rubbish and a product of an inbred quarrel between two groups of scientists on what is the most important criterion for classification, characteristics or DNA.