The metaphysics of apes : negotiating the animal-human boundary

The Metaphysics of Apes, first published in 2005, traces the discovery and interpretation of the human-like great apes and the ape-like earliest ancestors of present-day humans. It shows how, from the days of Linnaeus to recent research, the sacred and taboo-ridden animal-human boundary was time and again challenged and adjusted. The unique dignity of humans, a central idea and value in the West, was, and to some extent still is, centrally on the minds of taxonomists, ethnologists, primatologists, and archaeologists. It has guided their research to a considerable extent. The basic presupposition was that humans are not entirely part of nature but, as symbolizing minds and as moral persons, transcend nature. This book was the first to offer an anthropological analysis of the burgeoning anthropological disciplines in terms of their own cultural taboos and philosophical preconceptions. The Metaphysics Of Apes Traces The Interpretation Of The Ambiguously Human-like Great Apes And Ape-like Ancestors Of Present-day Humans. It Shows How, From The Days Of Linnaeus To Recent Research, The Sacred And Taboo-ridden, Animal-human Boundary Was Time And Again Redrawn To Cope With These Challenges. At Stake Was The Unique Human Dignity, A Basic Idea And Value In The West Which Was, And To Some Extent Still Is, Centrally On The Minds Of Ethnologists, Archaeologists, And Primatologists. This Book Is Thus The First To Offer An Anthropological-cum-epistemological Analysis Of The Burgeoning Anthropological Disciplines In Terms Of Their Own Cultural Taboos And Philosophical Preconceptions. It Maps Their Unwilling Retreat From The Notion Of Human Unicity And From The Relentless Policing Of The Animal-human Boundary.--jacket. 1. Ambiguous Apes -- 1.1. Traditional Views Of Apes -- 1.2. The Discovery Of Apes And Early Hominids -- 1.3. Citizens And Animals -- 2. Crafting The Primate Order -- 2.1. Homo Sylvestris -- 2.2. The Primate Order -- 2.3. Separate Again -- 2.4. Speaking Apes -- 3. Up From The Ape -- 3.1. A Grim And Grotesque Procession -- 3.2. The Monstrous Other Within -- 3.3. Narrative And Paradox -- 4. Homo's Humanness -- 4.1. The Earliest Homo -- 4.2. Ancients And Moderns -- 5. Symbolic Man In Ethnology -- 5.1. A Discipline's Identity -- 5.2. Biological Approaches Rejected -- 6. Pan Sapiens? -- 6.1. Fierce Or Gentle -- 6.2. Tools, Mirrors, Symbols -- 6.3. Ape And Human Rights -- 7. Beyond Dualism -- 7.1. An Epistemological Reminder -- 7.2. Rethinking Dichotomies. Raymond Corbey. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 203-224) And Index. Preface Introduction Part I. Ambiguous Apes: 1. Traditional views of apes 2. The discovery of apes and early hominids 3. Citizens and animals Part II. Crafting the Primate Order: 4. Homo sylvestris 5. The primate order 6. Separate again 7. Speaking apes Part III. Up From the Ape: 8. 'A grim and grotesque procession' 9. The monstrous other within 10. Narrative and paradox Part IV. Homo's Humanness: 11. The earliest homo 12. 'Ancients' and 'Moderns' Part V. 'Symbolic Man' in Ethnology: 13. A discipline's identity 14. Biological approaches rejected Part VI. Pan Sapiens?: 15. Fierce or gentle 16. Tools, mirrors, symbols 17. Ape and human rights Part VII. Beyond Dualism: 18. An epistemological reminder 19. Rethinking dichotomies Bibliography. Tracing the interpretation of the human-like great apes and ape-like earliest ancestors of present-day humans, this study demonstrates how from the days of Linnaeus to the present, the sacred and taboo-ridden animal-human boundary was constantly tested. The unique dignity of humans, a central value in the West, was, and to some extent still is, on the minds of taxonomists, ethnologists, primatologists, and archaeologists. This book thus offers an anthropological analysis of the burgeoning anthropological disciplines in terms of their own cultural taboos and philosophical preconceptions.