The Many Perils of Ejective Anthropomorphism
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Anthropomorphism is the use of categories appropriate to humans for the study of animals or objects. Behavioral anthropomorphism is a very common feature of our day-to-day speech. Just in the last few days, I have heard a cat described as being "lonely," a computer described as "improvising," a gear box as "protesting," storm winds as being "angry," the stock market as "lacking willpower," and a tomato plant as looking "dejected." Do these anthropomorphic expressions merely entertain, or do they represent a kind of "street truth" about the things they describe that might form the basis for a scientific insight?
Publication Title
Behavior and Philosophy
Publication Date
1994
Volume
22
Issue
2
First Page
59
Last Page
70
ISSN
1943-3328
DOI
https://www.jstor.org/stable/27759318
Keywords
anthropomorphism
Repository Citation
Thompson, Nicholas S., "The Many Perils of Ejective Anthropomorphism" (1994). Faculty Works. 76.
https://commons.clarku.edu/facultyworks/76
