Conditioned Anti-anthropomorphism

by Grant Goodrich,
Indiana University

Colin Allen,
Indiana University

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Abstract

How should scientists react to anthropomorphism (defined for the purposes of this paper as the attribution of mental states or properties to nonhuman animals)? Many thoughtful scientists have attempted to accommodate some measure of anthropomorphism in their approaches to animal behavior. But Wynne will have none of it. We reject his argument against anthropomorphism and argue that he does not pay sufficient attention to the historical facts or to the details of alternative approaches.

Goodrich, G., Allen, C. (2007). Conditioned Anti-anthropomorphism. Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews, 2, 147-150. Retrieved from http://comparative-cognition-and-behavior-reviews.org/ doi:10.3819/ccbr.2008.20012