We often hear about the similarities between humans and our closest primate relatives—chimpanzees and bonobos—especially when it comes to social behaviours, like the mother–child bond. These comparisons are used to draw beautiful parallels that make us feel more connected to the animal kingdom, but this often requires ignoring the differences. In this article, I talk […]
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From Mother Goddess to Virgin Mother: The Evolution of Motherhood in Myth
Motherhood has always been central to human culture and mythology, but its meaning and significance have transformed profoundly over time. From ancient fertility goddesses who embodied the raw power of life and creation to the subdued maternal figures of patriarchal religions, myths about mothers reveal not only societal values but also deep conflicts between genders […]
Kant, Heidegger and You
A child is feeling unwell on a school day. The father, in his typical fashion, insists, ‘You must go to school. School is important, and it’s your duty.’ This rule applies universally and objectively, just like the biological fact that he is the child’s father. The mother, however, responds differently. ‘Look, he’s clearly not feeling […]
Culture and the Myth of Learning
A young chimpanzee, clinging to its mother, will stretch out its hand or make vocal requests for a bite of what the mother is eating. Sometimes, the mother obliges and offers the infant some food; other times, she remains focused on her own meal, leaving the infant to fend for itself. The infant must be […]
Language and human uniqueness
Paleoanthropology, the study of ancient humans, continually revises our understanding of what makes Homo sapiens unique. Initially, the faculty of ‘language’ was thought to be exclusive to modern humans. This view expanded to include Neanderthals as new evidence came to light. Now, even Homo erectus, our ancient ancestor, is considered to have had this capacity. […]
The proof-of-work fallacy
If your friend shows you a medal and says that it proves he’s run a marathon, you might not totally believe him. Yeah, your friend is fit and the medal looks legit; however, this piece of metal does not actually prove that he’s run the 26.2 miles. This scepticism may seem like semantic hair-splitting, but […]