Re: virus: Language

Sodom (sodom@ma.ultranet.com)
Fri, 27 Mar 1998 11:22:44 -0500


I am not assuming that proto humans were first, I am simply suggesting they did it. i cant say, and I dont think science has yet to
discover, the origin of mysticism.
As for Elephants, i dont know that elephants dont see the bones of their ancestors in some mystical way. I think that would be
underestimating the intelligence of the animal. In my opinion, using human intellignece in an attempt to quantify the intelligence of
other animals seems a little preposterous. We are discovering that our cousins, the other apes, are much more advanced than we ever
thought before 5 years ago. A Bonobo for instance can learn all the words humans can, even though they cant articualte due to the lack
of vocal chords.

I would suggest that we excel in certain areas of mental and intellectual development, but are lacking in others, mainly empathy.
Perhaps there is a whole level of empahty we are ill equiped to deal with that many animals use as communication.
I dont know that though either, maybe.

Sodom
The light in the tunnel

Tim Rhodes wrote:

> Sodom writes:
>
> > Early humanoids did demonstrate ceramonial burial which is
> > indicative of a religion. The Neanderthals especially.In my opinion, and I am
> > basing it on my understaing of the origin of religion, is that as soon as an
> > animal reaches a certain point where it can try to understand what is
> > happening, it creats gods to explain what it does not understand.
>
> Elephants also observe burial rites, but I don't see anyone assuming that that means they believe in gods. Why do you suppose that
> the belief in gods came first in proto-humans?
>
> -Prof. Tim