What does Frans de Waal do?

Dr. Frans B. M. de Waal is a Dutch/American biologist and primatologist known for his work on the behavior and social intelligence of primates. His first book, Chimpanzee Politics (1982) compared the schmoozing and scheming of chimpanzees involved in power struggles with that of human politicians.

What did Frans de Waal study?

When Frans de Waal started studying nonhuman primates, in the Netherlands more than 40 years ago, he was told not to consider the emotions of the animals he was observing. “Thoughts and feelings — the mental processes basically — were off limits,” he says.

How does Frans de Waal define morality?

Based on his extensive work with chimpanzees and capuchin monkeys, de Waal explained how these two species are among a select group of primates that share food. Human morality is a deep-seated, natural trait grown from the social nature that natural selection has produced, said de Waal.

What three animals did Frans de Waal Discover have empathy?

Primatologist Frans de Waal says chimps & bonobos share many of our traits, including empathy and a sense of fairness. He describes some of his research that challenges assumptions about human exceptionalism.”

Is Frans de Waal an atheist?

The ease with which our brain suspends reality—call it irrationality, imagination or faith—has been crucial to the development of religion in human culture, according to de Waal, a respected primatologist and avowed atheist. He has a scientist’s curiosity about religion.

What overall claim does Frans BM de Waal make?

de Waal argues that empathy developed from the way Homo sapiens are in tune with one another. In support of his argument he provides examples of how people and other primates are in tune to do as others do, such as yawn or laugh when others are yawning or laughing.

Are chimpanzees sadistic?

The conclusion is quite clear: Chimpanzees kill for pleasure, for the joy of killing, and are therefore naturally sadistic. And since chimpanzees are essentially the same as humans, we too are naturally cruel and inclined to violence, murder and savagery.

Is Frans de Waal atheist?

In a book coming out next week called The Bonobo and the Atheist, primatologist Frans de Waal argues that morality is built into our species.

What do primates mean?

primate, in zoology, any mammal of the group that includes the lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans.

How do Empaths evolve?

Here are some ways you can activate the empathic power within you:

  1. Acknowledge that you are an empath. If you are an empath, compassion is your calling.
  2. Trust your intuition. As an empath, you are highly sensitive.
  3. Don’t play the victim.
  4. Set boundaries.
  5. Meditate.
  6. Breathe.
  7. Transmute negative energy.
  8. Love yourself.

What are the pillars of morality according to de Waal?

One is reciprocity, and associated with it is a sense of justice and a sense of fairness. And the other one is empathy and compassion. And human morality is more than this, but if you would remove these two pillars, there would be not much remaining, I think. So they’re absolutely essential.

What are some similarities between humans and monkeys?

Living Primates Because primates are related, they are genetically similar. Human DNA is, on average, 96% identical to the DNA of our most distant primate relatives, and nearly 99% identical to our closest relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos.

What kind of behavior does Frans de Waal study?

Frans de Waal studies primate social behavior — how they fight and reconcile, share and cooperate. Dutch/American biologist and ethologist Frans de Waal draws parallels between primate and human behavior, from peacemaking and morality to culture.

What did Frans de Waal say about morality?

—Frans de Waal. His 2013 book The Bonobo and the Atheist examines human behavior through the eyes of a primatologist, and explores to what extent God and religion are needed for human morality. The main conclusion is that morality comes from within, and is part of human nature.

When did Frans de Waal write his first book?

Looking at human society through the lens of animal behavior, de Waal’s first book, Chimpanzee Politics (1982), compares the schmoozing and scheming of chimpanzees involved in power struggles with that of human politicians.

Where did Frans de Waal get his doctorate?

In 1977, De Waal received his doctorate in biology from Utrecht University after training as a zoologist and ethologist with Professor Jan van Hooff, a well-known expert of emotional facial expressions in primates. His dissertation research concerned aggressive behavior and alliance formation in macaques.