Actually, I was thinking that it might be difficult for a chimp to comprehend the concept that to defend the right to life of one's fellow man is to effectively defend the value of your own life. But I'm starting to suspect that most humans are also unable to grasp that concept. So you've nearly convinced me that the difference between chimps and humans is not in the brain capacity, but the body hair.
>
>> It would be almost as exceptional for a human not to have the inherent
>capacity to do so.
>>(Here you confuse un-utilised capacity for absence of capacity.)
>
>Well, no, someone born without a brain stem does not have the capacity to
>share human values, or to even conceptualize of any values whatsoever.
No kidding? I would never have figured that out without your help. But what is your point exactly? Are you asserting that it is unexceptional for a human to be born without a brain stem? Do you have any personal reasons for thinking this is normal?
Bill Bartlett Bracknell Tas