Re: Pay for Learning LO1488

Jim Michmerhuizen (jamzen@world.std.com)
Thu, 1 Jun 1995 21:03:17 +0059 (EDT)

Replying to LO1454 --

On Wed, 31 May 1995 Ron2785@eworld.com wrote:

> Jim Michmerhuizen, in LO1441, suggested that "clearly, there's something
> that we humans do better than any of our fellow creatures. Let's call
> that activity 'learning.'"
>
> In the grand scheme of things, this is probably a side issue: but I would
> have to challenge Jim's comment. Having just returned from some pretty
> wild parts of Australia, I have vividly in my mind some rather
> extraordinary examples of adaptation, or of "learning," if you will: viz.,
> echidnas, which are spikey-backed anteaters that manage to look like
> spinafex grass, as they burrow into the ground avoiding predators. Some
> of this is no doubt genetic, some of this is no doubt learned.

I envy you. I only get to see these sort of miracles on local PBS.

> For my own part, I do think humans have one major facility that
> distinguishes the species from other animals -- the ability to create and
> detect irony.

Aw, gee whiz. I didn't really expect to start - or restart - that
particular biological controversy going again. So I'll surrender,
gleefully even. It was no part of my thesis that none of our fellow
creatures learn -- only that we do it better. (If there are any
nonhuman participants in this group, speak up now.) If every species has
its distinguishing competencies (fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly...),
there's no reason for us to be bashful about ours.

With regard to the irony criterion, I must agree. I would see it as
logically implied by the existence of language. A couple of days'
nonstop dialogue might expose some more fundamental premise or set of
principles from which _both_ our positions might follow.

--
Regards
     Jim Michmerhuizen
     jamzen@world.std.com
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