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Frans de Waal

Frans de Waal Quotes

Primatologist

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Famous Frans de Waal Quotes

“I sometimes try to imagine what would have happened if we’d known the bonobo first and the chimpanzee only later—or not at all. The discussion about human evolution might not revolve as much around violence, warfare and male dominance, but rather around sexuality, empathy, caring and cooperation. What a different intellectual landscape we would occupy!”

IfsTryingFirstsHumansDifferentSometimesMightKnownImagineViolenceHappenedEvolutionIntellectualEmpathyMalesCaringSexualityLandscapeDiscussionCooperationWarfareDominanceChimpanzeesHuman EvolutionBonobosMale Dominance
Book:Our Inner Ape: A Leading Primatologist Explains Why We Are Who We Are
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“It is not only visitors to the zoo who are fascinated but uneasy in the presence of chimpanzees; the same is true of scientists. The more they learn about these great apes, the deeper our identity crisis seems to become. The resemblance between humans and chimpanzees is not only external. If we look straight and deep into a chimpanzee’s eyes, an intelligent, self-assured personality looks back at us. If they are animals, what must we be?”

IfsHumansLooksSelfSeemsEyeAnimalIdentityPersonalityScientistIntelligentCrisisDeeperFascinatedAssuredApesVisitorsZoosUneasyResemblanceChimpanzeesIdentity Crisis
Book:Chimpanzee Politics: Power and Sex Among Apes
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“I've argued that many of what philosophers call moral sentiments can be seen in other species. In chimpanzees and other animals, you see examples of sympathy, empathy, reciprocity, a willingness to follow social rules. Dogs are a good example of a species that have and obey social rules; that's why we like them so much, even though they're large carnivores.”

SocialAnimalMoralAtheismDogExampleEmpathySpeciesPhilosopherPositive AtheismWillingnessSentimentsReciprocityGood ExamplesChimpanzeesCarnivores
Author:Frans de Waal
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