What can primates tell us about what it means to be human?

Question

What can primates tell us about what it means to be human?

Answer 1

nothing. they're not human.

studying them can highlight the difference between humans and animals (as well as the uncanny similarities), but they can't tell us what those differences mean.

if you want stuff on what it means to be human, there're thousands of years worth of philosophers you can look up.

Answer 2

Well, we ARE primates, apes, more specifically.

Thus, we have a lot in common with them. And our distant ancestors were much more like them (at one point, we shared ancestors, but I mean later).

So seeing how they live, and their social structures gives us insight into early humans, and us -- though one has to be careful an analogizing from them to us.

By watching their much simpler societies, we see simplified versions of much of what we still do and are.

Answer 3

Some studies find that a lot of basic primate behavior is very similar to basic human behavior.  What it tells us is that humans aren't necessarily as unique a species as we think we are.

Answer 4

Our fleshly corporeal bodies do much to inform our minds and souls of the world around us. And we have to apply great and elaborate exercises to overcome the urge to merely relate to the world around us through the filters of our encasements (biases). The encasements that monkeys deal with are: capability, social status, partnering with others, self-esteem, food resource, shelter. Our ability to quickly access our histories via written and oral mediums, assimilate that data and synthesize it into something tangible is astounding in comparison to primates. If humans concentrate on this skill we can effectively increase the tangible effect of our corporate knowledgebase of understanding and wisdom that frames our world around us.

Answer 5

Nothing, I think. They are not human. But they might show us humans how we are not so superior as we think. Strip away the cultural achievements, most of which are not older than 500 years, and the differences will clearly be only gradual.

I think a great deal of the present threats facing the whole planet stem from the hubris that we think we are above nature, instead of part of it.

Answer 6

Well, I guess it can show us that we share a lot of traits, both physical and behavioral, with our primate cousins. And it may give us insight into how a lot of what we do developed.

For example, primates (chimps among the more notable) have been observed using crude tools, as well as showing signs of culture, such as learning different methods of obtaining a certain goal and passing that information to their offspring (a trait which other animals, such as birds, don't process. they can learn a new way of obtaining their goal, but will not pass it on to their offspring).