MidTerm 1 - Leonel Bruxel

Does the human species really differentiate that much from the other animals on our
planet? Is the placing as the “only intelligent species” indeed true? Frans de Waal’s essay
called “What I Learned from Tickling Apes” analyzes this statement of separating humans and
other species from the scientific point of view. By using comparison, appeal to authority and
historic evidence, he states that although the scientific community does not like to admit, the
human species do not differentiate that much from others. And the concept of thinking so is a
much more social construction than scientific support.
First, Waal uses the comparison device to emphasize that the human species does not
differentiate that much from other animals. The author starts by stating that “Ticking a juvenile
chimpanzee is a lot like ticking a child. The ape has the same sensitive spots [...]. He opens his
mouth wide, lips relaxed, panting audibly in the same “huh-huh-huh” rhythm of inhalation and
exhalation as human laughter.” (Waal 4) This comparison is used to demonstrate that in certain
situations or activities, other animals can have the same reaction as a human could. Further, the
author provides the following comparison after exemplifying how a bird in a certain study had
the same logical thinking as a human would: “Corvids are a technologically advanced branch
on the tree of life with skills that often match those of primates like us.” (Waal 7). This
comparison is used to explain that even the birds, which seems a very distant species than us, at
the end displayed similar patterns of behavior to the humans. Waal uses the comparison display
to reinforce that the human species have a lot in common with other animals, either in behavior
and in the way of thinking as well. Therefore, the characterization as the unique ones, falls
apart.
Secondly, the author relies on the appeal to authority device to sustain his idea by
bringing a study made by the German psychologist Wolfgang Köhler. He conducted a study with
a chimpanzee called Sutan where he would put him in a difficult situation to analyze to a point
where he would have to have a similar thinking to a human, logically to solve his situation.
“According to Köhler, Sultan showed insight by combining what he knew about boxes and sticks
to produce a brand-new action sequence to take care of his problem.” (Waal 5) By bringing this
experience, Waal reinforces his idea that humans are not unique or special. Because at the end,
a chimpanzee has the same structure of logical thinking to obtain a result for a problem.
Another example of appeal to authority used by the author is when he provides the example of a
study conducted by the aviary at Oxford University on Betty the bird. She was also put in a
situation where only a logic similar to a human could solve the problem, and she did so. As
Waal tells: “All she had to work with was a straight metal wire, which didn’t do the trick.
Underrated, Betty used her beak to bend the straight wire into a hook to pull up the bucket.
Since no one had taught Betty to do so, it was seen as an example of insight.” (Waal 7). Both
examples were used to claim from other specialists in the field that other animals can indeed
display similar behaviors as humans do. Leaving behind the belief that we are unique logicisms
and thinkers.
Finally, the author appeals to the historic evidence to explain why the human species
insist on classifying ourselves as the superior ones, putting us on another level compared to
other animals. “When our ancestors moved from hunting to farming, they lost respect for
animals and began to look at themselves as the rulers of nature.” (Waal 9). This piece of history
explanation can better exemplify why and when we started placing the human species above
others and classifying as the “intelligent ones”. Another piece of appeal to authority can be
found when Waal uses Aristotle to explain the reason of this intellectual segregation. “The great
philosopher put all living creatures on a vertical Scala Naturae, which runs from humans
(closest to gods) down towards other mammals, with birds, fish, insects, and mollusks near the
bottom.” (Waal 6). This other citation also gives us a better understanding on why the human
has been always places far from other species and considered superior among them. Both
appeal to authority used by the author on his essay can be used to better understand is point that
humans are not superior from other animals in this planet. In fact, by these two passages, we
can see that this idea was mere created by the human to better explain himself on his moral
issues and egocentrism.
In conclusion, we can see that thinking that humans are superior or special compared to
other species is in fact inaccurate. Waal has employed comparison, appeal to authority and
historic evidence to sustain his point thought out his essay. Although his opinion can be
perceived along the text, he also points out fair arguments to sustain himself. In my opinion, the
human feeling of superiority explains a lot on how egocentric we are in this point. Therefore,
showing that we do not have a lot better than other species displaying emotions like empathy for
similar.

MidTerm 1 - Leonel Bruxel

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Does the human species really differentiate that much from the other animals on our

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