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,