Laure said:
The chimpanzee is among the species most closely related to humans. Indeed, they share 98% of their genes. Futhermore, according to fossil datation, their closest common ancestor lived 6 millions years ago.With this in mind, what could observations of violence in chimpanzee groups explain about human behaviour ?
According to biology, behaviour and traits are transmitted to different species by evolution. A common trait of chimpanzee and humans is their extraordinary ability to make war and to kill their own species (although humans are unmistakably the best).Where does it come from? Is it natural instinct? Is it taught by the previous generation? One thing is quite sure : their common ancestor must have had the same behaviour.
This must change our conception of the violent behaviour of humans. Violence might not be just a way of gaining power and wealth. Violence might actually be inherent in human behavior. If this is so, be careful : everybody must be even more vigilant in order to rule violence out of our world.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Essay Question
You have a choice of two topics:
***
Topic 1
***
A leading biologist once said that, "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." If this is so, make sense of the following observations of chimpanzee behavior:
a)'Martin Muller is as broad shouldered and tall as an England rugby forward, yet he was frightened. It was August 1998 in Uganda. He heard screams and the sound of something being pounded. He ran through the forest towards the noise; when he burst into a clearing he saw 10 chimpanzees had captured and killed another."The pounding that they were doing was on his body. The front of the chimpanzee was covered with 30 or 40 puncture wounds and lacerations, the ribs were sticking up out of the rib cage because they had beaten on his chest so hard. They had ripped his trachea out, they had removed his testicles, they had torn off toenails and fingernails. It was clear that some of the males had held him down, while the others attacked."
b)It was a four-year "war" witnessed by Dr Jane Goodall, and Dr Muller's PhD supervisor, Richard Wrangham, a professor of primatology from Harvard University, Boston, that put an end to our cosy ideas.In the Seventies, Prof Wrangham and Dr Goodall watched a group of chimpanzees split into two factions. One group killed every male and some of the females in the other group. The victims had recently been their companions.
Extracts from 'Apes of war...it's in our genes' by By Sanjida O'Connell published in The Telegraph 2004
Topic 2
G.W.Bush would like Intelligent Design to be taught in American schools as a valid alternative to the theory of evolution. Do you agree or disgree. Give reasons to support you position.
Instructions
In your essay draw on information given during the class presentations on evolution, but most importantly from your own reasoning skills. Write clearly and simply and follow the rules of paragraphing discussed in our previous classes.
Word length: 150 +/- 10%Due 15 Oct (or never!)Submit your essay as an online comment.*
You are welcome to use pseudonyms.Any questions just ask:
Nalhomework@aol.com
ANSWERS
Possible Model Essay for Topic 1
Best Student Essay for Topic 1
***
Topic 1
***
A leading biologist once said that, "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." If this is so, make sense of the following observations of chimpanzee behavior:
a)'Martin Muller is as broad shouldered and tall as an England rugby forward, yet he was frightened. It was August 1998 in Uganda. He heard screams and the sound of something being pounded. He ran through the forest towards the noise; when he burst into a clearing he saw 10 chimpanzees had captured and killed another."The pounding that they were doing was on his body. The front of the chimpanzee was covered with 30 or 40 puncture wounds and lacerations, the ribs were sticking up out of the rib cage because they had beaten on his chest so hard. They had ripped his trachea out, they had removed his testicles, they had torn off toenails and fingernails. It was clear that some of the males had held him down, while the others attacked."
b)It was a four-year "war" witnessed by Dr Jane Goodall, and Dr Muller's PhD supervisor, Richard Wrangham, a professor of primatology from Harvard University, Boston, that put an end to our cosy ideas.In the Seventies, Prof Wrangham and Dr Goodall watched a group of chimpanzees split into two factions. One group killed every male and some of the females in the other group. The victims had recently been their companions.
Extracts from 'Apes of war...it's in our genes' by By Sanjida O'Connell published in The Telegraph 2004
Topic 2
G.W.Bush would like Intelligent Design to be taught in American schools as a valid alternative to the theory of evolution. Do you agree or disgree. Give reasons to support you position.
Instructions
In your essay draw on information given during the class presentations on evolution, but most importantly from your own reasoning skills. Write clearly and simply and follow the rules of paragraphing discussed in our previous classes.
Word length: 150 +/- 10%Due 15 Oct (or never!)Submit your essay as an online comment.*
You are welcome to use pseudonyms.Any questions just ask:
Nalhomework@aol.com
ANSWERS
Possible Model Essay for Topic 1
Best Student Essay for Topic 1
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