We are Devo!
Posted on 07/26/2006 10:23:55 PM PDT by hocndoc
Destroying Human Exceptionalism By Creating Human/Chimp Hybrids
I just don't understand the emotional stake some people invest in convincing us that humankind is nothing special in the universe. Indeed, some, such as University of Washington psychology professor David P. Barash, are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to knock us off the pedestal of exceptionalism. This includes, as he urges in this piece published in the LA Times, creating human/chimp hybrids to prove that we are just a bunch of apes. (This is not the first time I have seen such advocacy.) And, bonus of bonuses, Barash believes, such a hybrid man/ape would prove that materialistic Darwinism is true.
Barash writes: "Should geneticists and developmental biologists succeed once again in joining human and nonhuman animals in a viable organism--as our ancient human and chimp ancestors appear to have done long ago--it would be difficult and perhaps impossible for the special pleaders to maintain the fallacy that Homo sapiens is uniquely disconnected from the rest of life...
"Moreover, the benefits of such a physical demonstration of human-nonhuman unity would go beyond simply discomfiting the naysayers, beyond merely bolstering a 'reality based' as opposed to a bogus 'faith based' worldview. I am thinking of the powerful payoff that would come from puncturing the most hurtful myth of all time, that of discontinuity between human beings and other life forms. This myth is at the root of our environmental destruction--and our possible self-destruction."
Barash is so wrong: Believing that humans are special is not a "hurtful myth" that disconnects us from the rest of life. It is a powerful moral imperative that places upon our shoulders special--and uniquely human--duties to life and the planet. Indeed, if we come to disbelieve that humanity is an exceptional species, we will be dismantling one of the most important concepts in human affairs--the belief in human exceptionalism.
This would be catastrophic. I strongly believe that our widespread acceptance of our unique status in the known universe is precisely why we accept the human duty to treat animals humanely, preserve the environment (you won't see elephants or any other animal giving a hoot about the destruction they cause), and promote universal human rights.
Let me also add that accepting the theory of evolution is perfectly consistent with believing in the concept of human exceptionalism, since it doesn't matter whether we evolved into our special state of being through undirected mutation and natural selection or got here through divine or other intelligent intervention. Indeed, it matters not whether all there is to life is what we can measure and observe, or whether, to paraphrase Shakespeare, there is far more to life than are dreamt of in Dr. Barash's philosophy.
Dr. Barash reveals his real purpose late in the column when, seemingly shaking with rage, he rails against Judeo/Christian belief as causing "speciesism." Ah yes, that old bugaboo. Don't we know that a rat, is a pig, is a dog, is a boy?
He should get a grip. If he and his ilk succeed in convincing humanity that we are just another animal in the forest, that is precisely how we will act.
The original editorial is in the LA Times, which requires free registration and which restricts posting to FR.
I still recommend that those who are interested go and read it.
"Because in these dark days of know-nothing anti-evolutionism, with religious fundamentalists occupying the White House, controlling Congress and attempting to distort the teaching of science in our schools, a powerful dose of biological reality would be healthy indeed. And this is precisely the message that chimeras, hybrids or mixed-species clones would drive home.
GENETICISTS studying human and chimpanzee DNA have concluded that a few million years ago, pre-humans and pre-chimps produced hybrids between the two species. And in the American evolutionary wars, this is good news.Of course, the very idea of ancestral human beings and chimpanzees "exchanging genes" makes people squirm, because (let's face it) this means sexual intercourse between our ancient human and animal ancestors. It is hard enough to contemplate our parents copulating; to think of our very great-grandparents not only descended from "monkeys" but having sex with them is difficult to conceive. But conceive is what they evidently did.
There is, however, an even greater source of discomfort at work here; not simple squeamishness about sex but a deeper repugnance that goes to the heart of why so many Americans continue to be so resistant to the theory of evolution. And this is why I not only welcome the news that humans and chimpanzees commingled genes in the past, I also look forward to the possibility that, thanks to advances in reproductive technology, there will be hybrids, or some other mixed human-animal genetic composite, in our future.
What is the Law?
Not to run on all fours.
That is the law.
Are we not men?
The United Critters.
Just another way to increase the Democrat base. If we have a chance we must replace Justice Stevens with a Judge with absolute allegiance to the second ammendment. Full disclosure: I personally do not own or exercise fire arms in any way whatsoever.
Lots of zip wads have no respect for human life but practically worship apes, dolphins, and even trees. But perhaps popular opinion will disable the creation of these hybreds because it is unfair to the ape.
There was an old-time circus that featured a purported man-chimp. Not simply a mock-up, but a mysterious species at the very least.
Also- Stalin tasked at least one famous doctor (name?) with creating an ape-man species that could be bred into warriors. When the doctor failed, Stalin had him Gulag'd where he died before long.
We are Devo!
Poor Barash doesn't have a clue as to what made Adam different from the other humankind of his epoch ... that breathing the spirit into Adam so he became to a living soul is just too hard for the Barashes of the world to accept because it grants to God too much those have chosen to assume for themselves: "... it would be difficult and perhaps impossible for the special pleaders to maintain the fallacy that Homo sapiens is uniquely disconnected from the rest of life ..." Such energy wasted on raling against the Creator! Reminds me of one Nebuchadnezzar who ended up wandering in madness on the plains of Al Shamiya when he raled against the Most High.
rale = rail (as in complain angrily) ... tired fingers
Thanks, I needed that levity! That was a good one, though my cats would challenge your inference that they aren't communicating with me when they want something (they never bother to acknowledge my presence unless they do want something).
"Apes, dolphins, and even trees"?
I favor alligators, they are so reliable, LOL!
I suspect that attempts have been made at man/ape hybrids, just not publicly.
'Nuff said.
Cheers!
It's plain for all to see and know: God's word plainly states that Adam is the father of all men. That's the difference.
Thanks for the ping!
There was an old-time circus that paraded a pygmy as the missing link.
Guys like this could only survive in a university. The real world would kill them.
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