Quote by Richard Dawkins

We think we know that chimpanzees are higher animals and earthworms are lower, we think we've always known what that means, and we think evolution makes it even clearer. But it doesn't. It is by no means clear that it means anything at all. Or if it means anything, it means so many different things to be misleading, even pernicious.

We think we know that chimpanzees are higher animals and ear

Summary

This quote challenges the commonly held belief that organisms can be categorized as "higher" or "lower" in terms of their evolutionary status. The quote suggests that while we may assume chimpanzees are more complex than earthworms, this distinction may not have any significant meaning. Furthermore, the quote implies that evolution itself doesn't necessarily provide a clear basis for establishing a hierarchy among species. The quote encourages questioning these notions as they might give rise to misunderstandings or harmful judgements about various organisms.

Topics

Science Evolution

By Richard Dawkins

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