Mirror of Literature,  12 (1828), 75–76.

Men and Monkeys

Anon

Genre:

Extract, Miscellaneous, Drollery

Publications extracted:

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine

Subjects:

Human Species, Zoology, Reason, Language, Race, Menageries


    Discusses, somewhat drolly, the similarity of monkeys and humans. Rebuts the arguments of those, from Aristotle to William Smellie, who sought to distinguish them on the basis of speech and reason. Argues that monkeys exercise reason, and that they have a language superior to 'Hottentottish' and Gaelic. Leaves open the question whether humans and monkeys are 'one and the same animal'. (75) Observes that it is unjust to judge monkeys on the basis of the specimens kept in menageries.



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