Descartes Man Vs Animal
Essay Preview: Descartes Man Vs Animal
Report this essay
Movies and novels such as “Planet of the Apes” and 2001: A Space Odyssey are called Science Fiction because they portray situations that seem extremely unrealistic concurrent with contemporary philosophy. “Planet of the Apes” depicts a world where apes rule while humans are subjected to servitude and confinement. These apes speak intelligibly and are human-like in appearance and behavior. In 2001: A Space Odyssey, the highly advanced computer, HAL 9000, an acronym for “Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer,” controls the bulk of spaceship operation. It makes declarative statements, learns from mistakes and, in the beginning, interacts well with the crew. In both works non-human entities, apes in one and a robotic system in the other, make spontaneous declarations and perform functions based upon previously acquired “knowledge” which goes against what most consider to be normal animal/machine behavior, thus it is termed Science Fiction. In 1637, celebrated French philosopher and mathematician, RenД© Descartes (1596-1650), published Discourse on Method, Optics, Geometry, and Meteorology in which he maintains that he had established two universal criteria to distinguish animals and machines from humans, and thus those entities without souls from those with. His criteria are the entity must have the capacity for speech and act from knowledge. His justifications that machines do not meet these two criteria are sound; however, he fails to verify that animals do the same. Descartes argument that humans have an infinite capacity to make appropriate responses is true as well as his implication that this capacity is non-material.
Descartes first argument is only humans have the capacity for speech. In the opening of Discourse on Method Descartes remarks that machines and animals
could never use speech or signs as we do when placing our thoughts on record for the benefit of others. For we can easily understand a machines being constituted so that it can utter words, and even emit some responses to action on it of a corporeal kind, which brings about a change in its organsÐ.but it never happens that it arranges its speech in various ways, in order to reply appropriately to everything said in its presence. (Descartes)
Speech can simply be defined as the faculty or act of expressing or describing thoughts, feelings, or perceptions by the articulation of words, whereas talking is just an utterance of sounds. Therefore the argument can be reduced to a capacity for speech versus talking because speech, according to Descartes, requires some sort of non-materiel entity capable of the formulation of these statements, which he attributes to the soul. However, simply the utterance of sounds does not require any such entity. Since humans are the only animals that use speech, we must be the only animals equipped with a soul. He also points out that it is not the lack or organs or physical capacity that prevents speech and requires talk: “it is not the want of organs that brings this to pass, for it is evident that magpies and parrots are able to utter words just like ourselves, and yet they cannot speak as we do” (Descartes). He also makes the point that “we ought not to confound speech with natural movements which betray passions and may be imitated by machines as well as be manifested by animals” (Descartes). He is making the point not to interpret the habitual instinct to make a racket and wave appendages when angry as speech. He makes the point as well that machines, by simple programming, can utter sounds that resembles communication but that they are not truly speaking because it is simply the disposition of their organs, not true expression. Descartes first criterion for distinguishing humans from animals and machines, those with souls from those without, is the capacity for speech. Because humans are the only creatures that use speech to communicate, where other animals may talk (a very primitive version of speech) through programming (robotics) or instinct (animals), they must be equipped with a non-material soul.
Descartes first distinguishing factor for differentiating animals and machines from humans is speech and it holds true for both machines and animals. Descartes second factor, however, is action from knowledge, which does not withstand criticism as well. He states,
although machines can perform certain things as well as or perhaps better than any of us can do, they infallibly fall short in others, by the which means we may discover that they did not act from knowledge, but from the disposition of their organs. For while reason is a universal instrument which can serve for all contingencies, these organs have need of some special adaptation for every particular action. (Descartes)
He later goes on to make an analogy to a clock: just because a clock tells time better than humans does not mean that it has more reason or that it possesses any knowledge but instead that the pulleys and weights inside of it are disposed, by the nature of its design, to calculate and display time; it is not action from any knowledge or consciousness of itself or its task. Knowledge can simply be defined as a familiarity, awareness, or understanding gained through experience or study. Where humans can learn from mistakes and reinforcement, machines only do as their design demands. For example, if a robot is programmed to keep running into a wall, it will until it is reprogrammed or runs out of power.
Descartes argument works well when speaking of machines; however, not as well with animals. In Discourse, Descartes does not give enough evidence to defend his premise that animals do not act from knowledge but only from the disposition of their organs. Recent studies show that many birds are more intelligent than previously thought.
Ravens, for instance, have the ability to solve difficult puzzles, such as untangling a knotted string to free up a tasty treat or figuring out how to steal fish by hauling in an anglers untended lineÐcrows on the remote Pacific island of New Caledonia have learned a skill that people once thought only primates could master: the use of tools. The birds use long, specially chosen twigs to spear the plump grubs that hide deep beneath the bark of rotting logsÐorangutans learn complex tasks, such as washing clothes by hand, after just a few tries. And even pigeons and parrots have shown an extraordinary capacity to recognize, count, or name different objects. [1]
Examples such as these and many others had lead many scientists to the conclusion that many animals are a great deal more intelligent and conscious than previously conceived. These show that animals in fact do act from knowledge. Descartes says that it is action only from