Question

What examples from A Conversation with Koko, When Elephants Weep or “The Elephant Crack-Up” best prove that Darwin was thinking in a useful direction when he emphasized that humans and other animals share the same types of emotional and cognitive experiences on a continuum rather than a hierarchy with sharp divisions? Choose at least three.

Answer 1

The examples are:

• A Conversation with Koko-.
  • Koko a female gorilla learns to interact and communicate with human beings in sign language.
  • When she was asked what type of mate does she wants, she indicated that she wants an attractive male gorilla.
  • Koko and Penny shares an affectionate relationship with each. Koko has equal affection towards Penny as she has towards Koko.
• When Elephants Beep
  • Mazon depicts various emotions of animals in his book as he gives an example of a mongoose that liked to play around with the squirrels.
  • The chimpanzee that took care of the malaria patient and helped him to regain his health.
  • Alex, the African grey parrot that had a higher level of vocabulary.

These examples show that animals show emotions and have cognitive abilities that are not in hierarchy, but, are in continuum with human beings.