Time and again, we are told that humans are not that special after all: abilities previously thought to be uniquely human are now purportedly evident amongst the great apes. The most recent claim, published in the current issue of the Royal Society journal Biology Letters, is that orang-utans use mime to make themselves understood.
Continue reading “Orang-utans are not remotely like humans”Battle in Print: comments on Sue Palmer’s ‘Out to Play’
The modern world is damaging children. They are cooped up inside – impassive and apathetic, and unable to create their own fun and entertainment. Their imagination is dulled by too many hours watching the TV and playing on sedentary computer games. Their minds are corrupted by commerce and advertising. They are traumatised by testing.
So we are increasingly led to believe.
Continue reading “Battle in Print: comments on Sue Palmer’s ‘Out to Play’”The determinist myth
The idea that the first three years of our lives make us who we are is scientifically unsound.
Continue reading “The determinist myth”A right to play
A few years ago, in my home town of Trondheim, a five-year-old girl called Silje was beaten up by three boys of her own age, knocked unconscious and left to freeze to death in the snow. People were shocked. Teachers and childcare officers were not alone in wanting to know where the adults had been when this happened. The children, it transpired, had been playing outdoors unsupervised.
Continue reading “A right to play”