Overview

Human language, cognition, and culture are unique; they are unparalleled in the animal kingdom. The claim that we can learn what makes us human by studying other animal species provokes vigorous reactions and many deny that comparative research can shed any light on the origins and character of human distinctive capacities. However, Learning from Animals? presents empirical research and an analysis of comparative approaches for an understanding of human uniqueness, arguing that we cannot know what capacities are uniquely human until we learn what other species can do. This interdisciplinary volume explores the prospects and problems of comparative approaches for understanding modern humans’ abilities by presenting: (1) the latest findings and theoretical approaches in primatology, comparative psychology, linguistics, and philosophy; (2) methodological reflections on the prospects and challenges of understanding human capacities through comparative research strategies; and (3) discussions of conceptual and ethical issues. This is the first book to address the issues raised by comparative research from such a diverse perspective. It will therefore be of great interest to students, researchers, and professionals in comparative psychology, linguistics, primatology, biology, and philosophy.

Full Product Details

9781138877627

Table of Contents

Reviews

The editors of Learning from Animals? approached the question of comparative cognition from a novel perspective. ... They challenged contributors to use what we know about animals to better understand ourselves. ...We can learn much from that perspective. - Thomas R. Zentall, University of Kentucky, USA, in The Psychological Record This is a comprehensive introduction to the field for newcomers, and a helpful tool for exemplifying where collaboration between traditionally separate methodological approached would provide a benefit. - Ruth Wiseman, World Society for the Protection of Animals, in Animal Welfare Anyone with an interest in the origins of human intelligence will find this book of considerable interest. The wide-ranging and admirably clear chapters are by an impressive array of experts who present a scholarly review of how language, culture and cognition in humans is different from that in other animals. - John M. Pearce, School of Psychology, Cardiff University Written by experts in the relevant fields, this book provides an engaging and informative introduction to the theoretical and methodological issues surrounding our attempts to learn about how animals, and humans, think. For those interested in comparative psychology, ethology, psycholinguistics, and related disciplines, this book makes essential reading. - Britta Osthaus, Canterbury Christ Church University

"""The editors of Learning from Animals? approached the question of comparative cognition from a novel perspective. ... They challenged contributors to use what we know about animals to better understand ourselves. ...We can learn much from that perspective."" - Thomas R. Zentall, University of Kentucky, USA, in The Psychological Record ""This is a comprehensive introduction to the field for newcomers, and a helpful tool for exemplifying where collaboration between traditionally separate methodological approached would provide a benefit."" - Ruth Wiseman, World Society for the Protection of Animals, in Animal Welfare ""Anyone with an interest in the origins of human intelligence will find this book of considerable interest. The wide-ranging and admirably clear chapters are by an impressive array of experts who present a scholarly review of how language, culture and cognition in humans is different from that in other animals."" - John M. Pearce, School of Psychology, Cardiff University ""Written by experts in the relevant fields, this book provides an engaging and informative introduction to the theoretical and methodological issues surrounding our attempts to learn about how animals, and humans, think. For those interested in comparative psychology, ethology, psycholinguistics, and related disciplines, this book makes essential reading."" - Britta Osthaus, Canterbury Christ Church University ""This is a comprehensive introduction to the field for newcomers, and a helpful tool for exemplifying where collaboration between traditionally separate methodological approached would provide a benefit."" – Ruth Wiseman, World Society for the Protection of Animals, in Animal Welfare ""Anyone with an interest in the origins of human intelligence will find this book of considerable interest. The wide-ranging and admirably clear chapters are by an impressive array of experts who present a scholarly review of how language, culture and cognition in humans is different from that in other animals."" - John M. Pearce, School of Psychology, Cardiff University ""Written by experts in the relevant fields, this book provides an engaging and informative introduction to the theoretical and methodological issues surrounding our attempts to learn about how animals, and humans, think. For those interested in comparative psychology, ethology, psycholinguistics, and related disciplines, this book makes essential reading."" - Britta Osthaus, Canterbury Christ Church University"

Author Information

Louise S. Röska-Hardy studied philosophy and linguistics, before taking her doctorate in philosophy, sociology, and linguistics in Frankfurt am Main. She has taught philosophy and linguistics at universities in Germany, Switzerland, and the USA. Eva M. Neumann-Held studied biology and philosophy. As researcher and lecturer she participated in numerous biophilosophical projects, among them ""Genome and Organisms: Philosophical Interpretations of Developmental Biology"". Currently she lectures in philosophy and biophilosophy at the University of Witten-Herdecke, Germany. Röska-Hardy and Neumann-Held are among the founders of the interdisciplinary research group ""What are human beings? Culture—Language—Nature"" (University of Dortmund and KWI).

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