The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal by Jared M. Diamond

The author of ‘Guns, Germs, and Steel’ wrote this book earlier, so it contained similar content but also had new and interesting content for me. The author explains how humans relate to primates like orangutans, gorillas, and chimpanzees. He also explains human life cycle events like death and menopause using evolutionary theory.

The author did not believe in finding intelligent extraterrestrials, unlike other scientists, and had a good reason. In that respect, the emergence of human beings and current civilization is so close to impossible that it seems that the existence of God can only explain them.

When Europeans used advanced technology to explore new lands, they often massacred native people. This makes it seem likely that something terrible might happen if more intelligent aliens than humans found Earth. However, the author seems to think that there will be no intelligent extraterrestrial life like ours. The Aborigines and Native Americans meeting Europeans felt similar to how we might feel when meeting advanced aliens.

The hypothesis that ancient humans in America and Australia ate up most of the large mammals and caused their extinction surprised me, as also suggested in ‘Guns, Germs, and Steel’. Historically, can it be really said that the law of the jungle does not apply to between animals and humans and to within human species? In this respect, humans are the third chimpanzee and unique animals. Humans are animals, but we are complex animals that refuse to be simply animals, and that yet cannot completely break away from animal laws.


Written by Shim G.

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