Thursday, February 7, 2008
Discourse Part 5, Paragraphs 10&11
In Discourse on Method, Part 5 in paragraphs 10 and 11 Descartes says how humans are different from animals. Descartes says that language and how humans declare their thoughts to others is far more intellectual than any animal is capable of. He does go on and say how some animals such as parrots and monkeys may be able to say some words but when you put those words together, humans are not able to have a conversation with them. Descartes says that humans are like machines and they are put together so perfectly and that is why they are capable of reason and intelligence. He says that our intelligence is what gives humans the idea to use their voice to produce words which leads to language and conversation. Descartes says that language is the reason why humans have intelligence and animals do not but why is language the only factor. Animals do things like humans everyday. Animals in the wild must find food, have a shelter for protection, protect their kin and fend for themselves. Just because animals do not communicate like we do, why is it that they are not intelligent?
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4 comments:
I think that what Descartes is saying about animals is false. Yes, humans are more complex and can actually use language how we know it, but who says that animals don't have their own language. I agree with what you said, Kari, about how animals have humans instincts too, like protection, finding food and etc... plus they have to dodge alot more cars then us!
Yes, I feel like because they have these instincts they are intelligent creatures also. Who knows what is going through their minds. That is one power that no creature (as far as we know) has. We can not read minds. We do not know if maybe there is some secret animal language they may have between themselves, who knows? Why does Descartes say that language is the only factor to determine intelligence?
that's true, but isn't language public in a certain way? if there were a talking species, wouldn't we have heard them by now? (birds, i guess...)
We hear birds chirp but we don't know what they are saying. But maybe in bird language they are saying something to one another.
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