Joe,
Just back from some time in the VA wilderness, the AT.
Wow, you have met a legend. I am green with envy. Your university knows how
to pick 'em!
Dave
On Wed, Apr 25, 2018 at 12:57 PM, Joseph Michalski <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear Colleagues:
>
>
> I wanted to share with this group some good fortune in that I had a
> delightful in-person conversation with Jane Goodall today. We were awarding
> her an honorary doctorate at my university. I was part of convocation, but
> then I was able to have some quiet time with her afterward. Tremendously
> accomplished, lovely woman - and still sharp as ever. Quite a thrill to
> hear her trace the arc of her personal story right down through to her
> present-day conservationist efforts.
>
>
> In any event, she talked about tool-making among the chimpanzees she
> studied, including the capacity to modify existing tools for additional
> purposes. She waxed eloquently about many similar features genetically and
> emotionally in comparing humans with chimpanzees and bonobos. When I met
> her after her talk, I used the opportunity to ask her about her direct
> experience and knowledge with their different modes of communication. I
> then asked her specifically if she could determine or infer from their
> communications whether chimpanzees offered any type of explanations or
> justifications for their behavior with other chimpanzees, etc. Here's what
> she said (and I'm summarizing quickly, having just had the conversation 30
> minutes ago!):
>
>
> "There's no question that they communicate with each other and certainly
> try to do things like manage conflict and keep the peace. But, no, there's
> no evidence that they try to justify their actions. The big difference, of
> course, is our capacity for human language, the development of our vocal
> chords. That just really restricts the kinds of conversations that
> chimpanzees and bonobos can have. They can't engage in any type of real
> discussion or planning for the future. So, no, (shaking her head) I don't
> see evidence of anything remotely resembling what humans do in terms of
> justifying their behaviors."
>
>
> Respectfully yours,
>
>
> Dr. Joseph H. Michalski
>
> Acting Academic Dean/Associate Academic Dean
>
> King’s University College at Western University
>
> 266 Epworth Avenue
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> London, Ontario, Canada
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> ______________________
>
> *ei*π + 1 = 0
>
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--
C. David ("Dave") Pruett
Professor Emeritus
Department of Mathematics & Statistics
James Madison University
540-246-3087 (Home)
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