Feral children

[suninmyeyes]

Children raised by animals,

There is an interesting footage of Ukrainian girl raised by dogs,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljVd6XS-J0s&feature=related,

and the whole over an hour long documentary

As the guy in the documentary says is it the genes or the expirience that makes us human?

Science has always been too rigid for my taste.

[strawdog65]

Children raised by animals,

There is an interesting footage of Ukrainian girl raised by dogs,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljVd6XS-J0s&feature=related,

and the whole over an hour long documentary

As the guy in the documentary says is it the genes or the expirience that makes us human?

Science has always been too rigid for my taste.

 

 

Hi suninmyeyes!

 

I am aware of these types of children... and it is incredible to see

how little they share with what we consider "civilized".

 

When realizing the only influences they have had are the ones

of the animals who have raised them, it's shocking to us.

We are taught to think of humankind as more than animals...

but is this an accurate picture of reality?

 

I do believe we are in large part a product of our environment,

but what does it mean to be "human" without the judgment

of a human society? Doesn't human society define humanity?

We are human because of the influence of other humans as

a yardstick and role model, but as far as there being some

innate "human" qualifier I don't know.

 

If Sentience is the building block of self- awareness, without the

role model of another human to know what being human is, I would

say we would become, as best we were able, like what ever the family

unit consists of, whether that be dogs, wolves or some other animal.

Of course all of this only would apply to babies raised in the wild

without human exposure of any kind.

 

It is an incredibly deep question to mull over... thanks for posting it!

 

Peace!

[doc benway]

If you are interested in this you might like a book I just read called Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue.

It is a story told from the perspective of a five year old boy who has grown up in a small room with his mother, both of whom are held hostage. He is not feral, per say, but his limited life experience makes for interesting possibilities.

[suninmyeyes]

Hi suninmyeyes!

 

I am aware of these types of children... and it is incredible to see

how little they share with what we consider "civilized".

 

When realizing the only influences they have had are the ones

of the animals who have raised them, it's shocking to us.

We are taught to think of humankind as more than animals...

but is this an accurate picture of reality?

 

I do believe we are in large part a product of our environment,

but what does it mean to be "human" without the judgment

of a human society? Doesn't human society define humanity?

We are human because of the influence of other humans as

a yardstick and role model, but as far as there being some

innate "human" qualifier I don't know.

 

If Sentience is the building block of self- awareness, without the

role model of another human to know what being human is, I would

say we would become, as best we were able, like what ever the family

unit consists of, whether that be dogs, wolves or some other animal.

Of course all of this only would apply to babies raised in the wild

without human exposure of any kind.

 

It is an incredibly deep question to mull over... thanks for posting it!

 

Peace!

Yeah it is incredible deep question to think about..

Although I am ware of these types of children.I was particulary puzzeld when I saw footage of Ukranian girl barking and behaving like a dog.You know when you see or hear something "in the right space time frame" and it just strikes a chord deep inside of you and brings out and insight.

RE:to the bit that i framed in italics in your post-

Yeah totally,we are so much a product of our enviroment,to the smallest detail.Very "sticky"situation.And when this type of exploration starts it is so difficult almost a taboo to admit sometimes and say to myself"this is not me ,it is just some conditioning,some thought pattern acquierd .It is going against everything we were ever thought to be true.

Personally I think human being would manifest compassion,understanding ,intelligence and love,spontaniously without fear ,that would be where hers/his concissnes is dwelling.As these are qualities that makes us different from animals.

 

Oh and by the way according to me I am not human yet.

Edited December 11, 2010 by suninmyeyes

[suninmyeyes]

If you are interested in this you might like a book I just read called Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue.

It is a story told from the perspective of a five year old boy who has grown up in a small room with his mother, both of whom are held hostage. He is not feral, per say, but his limited life experience makes for interesting possibilities.

Cheers Steve,sounds interesting.

[三江源]

Sciencey types talk about how synapses join up in the brain from infantile positive interactions with the breast/mother/primary care giver.

 

Without the mirroring and needs being met and physical contact, the synapses dont join up.

 

They say psychopaths had basic needs ignored in infancy, and their brains never wired up fully, hence as adults they simply lack the sense of 'other' as either fully real or worthy. ie absence of empathic response.

 

 

I think it is a soul thing. I dont think a soul wants to fully embody, when the world doesnt offer the quality of food which is required.

[suninmyeyes]

 

...

I think it is a soul thing. I dont think a soul wants to fully embody, when the world doesnt offer the quality of food which is required.

Intersting .I wonder wherther I am understanding you correctly here,can you explain?Also what is soul for you?I am still working on my unedrstanding/belief/non belief and trying to figure it out.