Naked Ape or Homo Sapiens?: A Reply to Desmond Morris

4.5/5 ( ratings)

The intent of this book is the refutation of statements by Desmond Morris, Robert Ardrey, and Konrad Lorenz. The authors stress the great differences between man and other animals, with particular emphasis on culture, learning, and adaptability. They oppose notions of human instincts, especially aggressive ones as outlined by Freud and recently by Storr, Lorenz, Ardrey, and Morris. They point to the existence of human cooperation and love to develop their assertion that man is more than an animal. They forcefully criticise the mistaken logic of leaping from bird behaviour to human behaviour, or the mistaken thinking that something must be true for man today simply because it might have been true for his ancestors millions of years ago.

Certainly the authors are correct in stressing the faulty logic and gross overstatements in the books they attack. Their arguments relative to learning, culture, and the uniqueness of man are supported by all anthropological information. But is it necessary to debate with Morris, using equally fallacious contentions?