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comment by JakobVirgil
JakobVirgil  ·  4180 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: 5 Human/Chimpanzee Differences

from the limited work I have done with our sociopathic cousins the difference between us and the apes is what de Waal calls empathy, Hodobler and Wilson call eusociality and Chomskey calls LAD.

I think we have a qualitative difference in how our brains work a organ of humanness most likely caused by a frame-shift mutation.





theadvancedapes  ·  4180 days ago  ·  link  ·  

de Waal's latest book claims that empathy came from the primate world? Chimpanzees can behave with empathy. So can bonobos and other great apes.

I've read Hodobler and Wilson's work on eusociality. I think it is true that we are eusocial and the other great apes aren't. I suppose I didn't list it because eusociality is a function of having complex language and the desire to teach and by taught etc. But point taken. I've never heard of Chomskey's LAD.

JakobVirgil  ·  4180 days ago  ·  link  ·  

It is a complex eusociality and teach/taught are part of the same thing.(in my mind)

on empathy I think the word requires a split cognitive empathy (the ability to figure out what the other guy is thinking/feeling) and emotional empathy (giving a shit about what the other guy things and feels).

if one lacks cognitive empathy he is a aspie.

lacking emotional empathy is sociopathy.

The chimps I met have a bit of the first one and none of the second.