Some assumptions we can make about BF is that this creature is upright. He is also very evasive which shows a good deal of wisdom.
Being upright has afforded man to concentrate on dexterity and use of tools, also to hold our young and have more face to face contact, even during the act of procreation.
There is no reason to not assume that this upright creature who can use his hands would also have a fair deal of intelligence. We don't see signs of technology amongst them, but I would guarantee that BF uses tools. If a chimp can use sticks and stones, then BF who has free hands for the past several millennium of evolution, surely uses tools quite well and effectively. In fact, more researchers looking for BF should take into consideration BF archaeology or signs of his tool use--and not just wood knocking and rock throwing like apes who are not upright 100% of the time.
So, we have a "wild" child of our family tree. Sort of the equivalent of a feral child, you know, like the legend of Romulus and Remus who were raised by a wolf.
There might have been potential for more intelligence, but without the interaction of smarter elders, the wild child becomes socially inept and unable to learn language or assimilate past the important early age of bonding and mirroring. So, if we took a BF from his baby stage and raised him amongst us "smarter elders," what might occur?
KoKo, the gorilla, learned sign language. We can definitely make a leap that if we raised a BF, we could not only get him to use sign language but more complicated concepts, perhaps even teach vocalizations if it is in his nature to use a language amongst his own kind. Gorillas use vocalizations, but not necessarily a fixed language, but if BF has a language skill set, we could potentially teach this creature to use his natural desire to "speak" by learning how to phonate our language. Of course, there are some mechanics involved depending upon the flexibility of his mouth, lips and palate.
I'm intrigued by the possibilities. It's not just that BF is upright which is similar to us, but what occurs when a creature goes upright. BF should have some good nest-building abilities and definitely the use of tools. Should he be raised by our more intelligent race, he could easily surpass any trained ape. What would that mean? What do these interactions now become between man and BF compared to man and gorilla? Would BF be able to get across the inner workings of his mind to realize that he has a cognizance that humans do, understanding life, death and even spirituality?
I'd love to hear your input on this conversation.
awesome thoughts/information shared.
ReplyDeleteI find anything about Koko the Gorilla, so moving. Koko's intelligence poses some uncomfortable ethical questions in itself, but a BF with even greater capabilities could create quite the shift in the way humans view themselves in the greater scheme of things.
ReplyDeleteThen again, humans don't always have the greatest track record when it comes to the treatment of other humans who are weaker, mentally ill, or disabled, so even if BF underwent some kind of growth because of contact with humans, would humans experience any growth because of contact with BF?
Good questions. I think what it would come down to is that if man thought he could train a baby BF to speak and communicate and discover in the end his IQ is perhaps that of a 5-year-old and therefore he's not human, what does that mean for the mentally incapacitated in our society or those with brain injuries? Perhaps what it takes to be human is simply compassion and should a creature show such a gesture, then they would finally join our race. If being human means we rule over others, then I think in the woods, BF would be more human. Then, as in any other acculturation of outsiders to our society, would we make BF follow our laws and rules and customs and spiritual outlook? Ultimately, would we create Reservation-like parks where he and his kind can live, but always under close observation? Or would they be intelligent enough to warrant a "nation" within our nation? My, oh my! The head spins....
ReplyDeleteExactly! Sometimes I have to go and get myself a coffee before I start reading some of your posts, so I can prepare my brain for the impending fireworks. Haha!
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