A research paper discussing the similarities and differences between ape and human consciousness.
The paper defines the word consciousness and questions whether chimpanzees and other apes do indeed possess all three traits that make up consciousness as we know it: language, self-awareness, and theory of mind. The paper gives examples from animal communication research which show that they perhaps do possess these traits. It then looks at the critics of this theory who claim that the difference between the human and ape consciousness is vast and that apes cannot really claim to possess language, self-awareness and a theory of mind skills.
“One of the original researchers using sign language with apes, Herb Terrace is now a critic. Terrace placed a chimpanzee named Nim in a community of people using sign language to see if he would pick up the language, but found that only by bribing him with treats did he learn (Wynne 52). Terrace realized that Nim was simply using signs that his trainers had used in their question, so in effect he was just echoing what had been said (Wynne 52). Regarding Washoe’s description of a swan as waterbird, it is noted that perhaps she was simply naming two things she saw, water and bird. As far as Kanzi’s ability to pick up symbolic language from observation of her mother’s training, it must be noted that Kanzi was rewarded for her use of symbols and usually given the things that she named (Wynne 52).”