thank you Sarah, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Yes I think we are - the truth of it, I think, really makes us reckon with our treatment of animals as a society, and that is a frightening thing to confront...
Rebecca, this is an excellent post, with beautiful descriptions. Unfortunately, many people feel they deserve to be on a pedestal over all other creatures. You make a great point that if the monkeys' relationships aren't real, then humans' relationships aren't either. Awhile ago, I read in a print anthology an essay that described a beached whale and how humans anthromorphised the whale because so many people view animals in human terms, which is so short-sighted.
That sounds like such an interesting article. I agree, it is short sighted to anthropomorphise - so easy to do it, as it's what we know best, and yet such a discredit to the creatures we are trying to relate to.
I find myself making those excuses (other animals don't *really* do X) to avoid charges of anthropomorphism, but friendship is undeniably the same across species. I love the simple poetry of your descriptions.
Anthropomorphism is such a loaded term, both within and outside of the sciences. We used to think that saying animals feel pain was "anthromorphising" them, and this justified some truly disgusting (and totally legal) activities. For a long time, scientists thought animals didn't have self-awareness, or were not capable of feeling empathy. Now we know there are lots of nonhuman species who show evidence of both. I think we should always have healthy scepticism either way, but also - as a scientist - I am hyper-aware that people outside of this scientific field tend to feel animals more "like us" should have more protections. So, from an animal welfare viewpoint, I think it's important to emphasise our similarities with animals (although I personally believe animals should be protected independent of how alike to us they are). It's a tricky topic though, especially because humans really are unique in many ways, and by anthropomorphising animals too much in popular media I think we actually do them a disservice.
It is a difficult balance. I have a background in animal science as well, and I seem to spend a lot of time arguing both sides of the anthropomorphism question. The problem, I think, is there is no clear, linear cut-off and we’d like there to be one.
To extract the smallest, softest recognisable moment and use it as a jumping off point to explore some of life's deeper questions - this is exquisite. Thank you, Rebecca, for this peaceful and soothing read as I enjoy my pre-dawn cup of tea.
Yes, yes, I do think it makes it all more wondrous the more we allow ourselves to know how we are “ a thread in an unfathomably, huge web of connection.” Gorgeously said.
Beautifully written! I love the imagery you created of faultlines - slipping through time and reality to another plane of existence. I know exactly what you mean, and I love those moments too.
So tenderly written. Friendship is my favorite of my favorite topics. It can sustain, transform and nourish when little else can. Favorite book on friendship is Soul Friends by Stephen Cope.
This is a lovely read, i really enjoyed it - and restacked. Friendship is one of the vital topics of our times I think and this offers vital insights. Iwanted to listen after reading - but why such a speedy delivery? Is it tech-controlled? How could i slow it down to a calmer pace? I'd like to savour and consider the words, they deserve it.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, thank you Pauline! In terms of reading speed, I'm not sure why it would play back fast. It sounds a normal speed for me. Perhaps it's a tech glitch but I'll be sure not to rush for future recordings anyway :)
Thanks Rebecca. Actually it does sound to me like a tech thing (or it was someone on speed that I thought probably wasn't you). Many things about Substack tech I've yet to master, if I ever do.
I'm still figuring it out too! I know there's an automated audio but didn't think that'd be an option if I'd uploaded my own. Anyway, hopefully it won't happen for future posts - let's see!
Beautiful. And I wholly agree, “Perhaps it makes it more wondrous, that we are not alone in our experience of relationships. We are just a thread in an unfathomably huge web of connection.” We demote functionality as something basic and mechanistic but all of life’s functionality—its sentient relating, learning, surviving, evolving, is quite miraculous. The bonds ensure this functional, interconnected web continues indefinitely and it’s heartening to know we each play a practical, but also perhaps sentimental, even loving, part in it.
Exactly this!! It always surprises me how often I hear something along the lines of "it is functional and therefore not special/worthy/interesting". I wonder where that idea comes from, what philosophy it's rooted in - this need for human behaviour to be mysterious and inexplicable and it is this that makes us important. Thank you as always for your perceptive (and poetic!) comment! x
"Besides love and sympathy, animals exhibit other qualities connected with the social instincts which in us would be called moral." -- Charles Darwin
Yes!
Such a beautiful description of friendship, and I so agree that humans are very frightened of admitting the truth of it.
thank you Sarah, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Yes I think we are - the truth of it, I think, really makes us reckon with our treatment of animals as a society, and that is a frightening thing to confront...
Rebecca, this is an excellent post, with beautiful descriptions. Unfortunately, many people feel they deserve to be on a pedestal over all other creatures. You make a great point that if the monkeys' relationships aren't real, then humans' relationships aren't either. Awhile ago, I read in a print anthology an essay that described a beached whale and how humans anthromorphised the whale because so many people view animals in human terms, which is so short-sighted.
That sounds like such an interesting article. I agree, it is short sighted to anthropomorphise - so easy to do it, as it's what we know best, and yet such a discredit to the creatures we are trying to relate to.
Stunning !!!! Thank you for your sensitive perception and courage
Thank you so much for reading! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I find myself making those excuses (other animals don't *really* do X) to avoid charges of anthropomorphism, but friendship is undeniably the same across species. I love the simple poetry of your descriptions.
Anthropomorphism is such a loaded term, both within and outside of the sciences. We used to think that saying animals feel pain was "anthromorphising" them, and this justified some truly disgusting (and totally legal) activities. For a long time, scientists thought animals didn't have self-awareness, or were not capable of feeling empathy. Now we know there are lots of nonhuman species who show evidence of both. I think we should always have healthy scepticism either way, but also - as a scientist - I am hyper-aware that people outside of this scientific field tend to feel animals more "like us" should have more protections. So, from an animal welfare viewpoint, I think it's important to emphasise our similarities with animals (although I personally believe animals should be protected independent of how alike to us they are). It's a tricky topic though, especially because humans really are unique in many ways, and by anthropomorphising animals too much in popular media I think we actually do them a disservice.
It is a difficult balance. I have a background in animal science as well, and I seem to spend a lot of time arguing both sides of the anthropomorphism question. The problem, I think, is there is no clear, linear cut-off and we’d like there to be one.
Yes same! It is such a nuanced topic that there can't be one size fits all, but we humans do so love to put things into boxes ;)
To extract the smallest, softest recognisable moment and use it as a jumping off point to explore some of life's deeper questions - this is exquisite. Thank you, Rebecca, for this peaceful and soothing read as I enjoy my pre-dawn cup of tea.
Thank you so much Caroline! I'm so glad you enjoyed it 🤍
Yes, yes, I do think it makes it all more wondrous the more we allow ourselves to know how we are “ a thread in an unfathomably, huge web of connection.” Gorgeously said.
Thank you Holly!! 🥰
Cooing monkey songs ahead of rain. Such a beautiful thing to imagine.
💚 it was such a wonderful sound.
Beautifully written! I love the imagery you created of faultlines - slipping through time and reality to another plane of existence. I know exactly what you mean, and I love those moments too.
Thank you Rhianna! I'm so glad the faultlines resonated with you.
So tenderly written. Friendship is my favorite of my favorite topics. It can sustain, transform and nourish when little else can. Favorite book on friendship is Soul Friends by Stephen Cope.
I will have to add this to my reading list!!
How lovely!
Thank you!
Beautiful!
Thank you!
Such a beautiful piece of writing and a lovely way to start a Monday morning. Thank you.
Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
This is a lovely read, i really enjoyed it - and restacked. Friendship is one of the vital topics of our times I think and this offers vital insights. Iwanted to listen after reading - but why such a speedy delivery? Is it tech-controlled? How could i slow it down to a calmer pace? I'd like to savour and consider the words, they deserve it.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, thank you Pauline! In terms of reading speed, I'm not sure why it would play back fast. It sounds a normal speed for me. Perhaps it's a tech glitch but I'll be sure not to rush for future recordings anyway :)
Thanks Rebecca. Actually it does sound to me like a tech thing (or it was someone on speed that I thought probably wasn't you). Many things about Substack tech I've yet to master, if I ever do.
I'm still figuring it out too! I know there's an automated audio but didn't think that'd be an option if I'd uploaded my own. Anyway, hopefully it won't happen for future posts - let's see!
A lyrical feast of words paying homage to friendship. 💙
So glad you enjoyed it, Angela!
Beautiful. And I wholly agree, “Perhaps it makes it more wondrous, that we are not alone in our experience of relationships. We are just a thread in an unfathomably huge web of connection.” We demote functionality as something basic and mechanistic but all of life’s functionality—its sentient relating, learning, surviving, evolving, is quite miraculous. The bonds ensure this functional, interconnected web continues indefinitely and it’s heartening to know we each play a practical, but also perhaps sentimental, even loving, part in it.
Exactly this!! It always surprises me how often I hear something along the lines of "it is functional and therefore not special/worthy/interesting". I wonder where that idea comes from, what philosophy it's rooted in - this need for human behaviour to be mysterious and inexplicable and it is this that makes us important. Thank you as always for your perceptive (and poetic!) comment! x