 |
| Beaver Dam (Photo by Marcin Klapczynski) |
Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences identifies
many different aspects of intelligence apart from the
traditional cognitive ones.
These aspects include naturalistic, spatial, kinesthetic and interpersonal components – all of which (and more) are present within animals too.
In fact, Dominique Mosbergen reports in The Huffington Post
that "humans really aren't smarter than other creatures –
and that some animals may actually be brighter than we are."
This conclusion is based upon research from the University of Adelaide in Australia which emphasizes that
reasoning "is just one form of intelligence." Just
because human and animal intelligences differ doesn't necessarily mean that one type is superior to the other.
Examples of animal intelligence abound. Elephants grieve,
birds build nests, beavers dam rivers, and "killer whales share a complex language of their own."
Why then do so many humans buy into the notion that they reign supreme as far as intelligence is concerned?
Could it be that they've needed a justification for their (often cruel) domination over animals?
Could it also be that some religions foster this idea of human superiority over all other created beings?
Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_multiple_intelligences
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/11/human-intelligence-animals_n_4400395.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592
Copyright December 11, 2013 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment