It would be interesting to explore methods of reversing or bypassing the issues you mention.I find historical accounts of feral children fascinating.
It is from studying them that we know about the effects of deprivation on cognitive development, since obviously it would be unethical to deliberately deprive children of intellectual stimulus in the name of research.
A child deprived of exposure to spoken language, for example, will grow up to be an adult incapable of developing a vocabulary more extensive than a toddler's.
Without the necessary stimulus, brain synapses don't develop and die off, and these things cannot be learned later in life. There is a window of opportunity in early childhood for language-learning, and if language is not acquired during that time, it will never be.
There has never been a case of a feral child acclimating in any meaningful way to society.
:lol:However, Mr Lou refused a DNA test. A Cambodian non-governmental organisation believes that it is impossible that a girl of eight could survive in the jungle and that she was actually brought up in captivity.
This brings up an interesting question regarding the whole "innate human rights" idea...From a socio-anthropological perspective, we've always been fascinated by feral children- or I should say, by the myth of feral children- as evidenced by their prominence in popular film and literature.
The reality of them is infinitely sadder, although no less interesting.
Most feral children throughout history have not survived more than a few years after being reintegrated into society. Actually, I'm not sure any true ferals have.
Humans, in their feral state, cannot withstand captivity.
I hope they never find her.
This brings up an interesting question regarding the whole "innate human rights" idea...
In the absence of any human society, do humans have rights?
From a socio-anthropological perspective, we've always been fascinated by feral children- or I should say, by the myth of feral children- as evidenced by their prominence in popular film and literature.
The reality of them is infinitely sadder, although no less interesting.
Most feral children throughout history have not survived more than a few years after being reintegrated into society. Actually, I'm not sure any true ferals have.
Humans, in their feral state, cannot withstand captivity.
I hope they never find her.
I really hope this child wasn't like the Genie case. I would venture to say that most feral children were not raised in the wild, but were neglected and abused by their parents and deprived of social and lingual development. I can't imagine the woods being the safest place for this woman, but if she is being abused and studied then she's safer there than with humans who will abuse and mistreat her. In Genie's case I believe things became so bad that they have moved her to an undisclosed location where she can live out the rest of her days with a care giver.
A thought - Does a human being (biologically) = a human being (sociologically)?I agree.
I think it's most destructive to "civilize" people when they don't want to be.
As long as she isn't hurting anyone, let her be.
A thought - Does a human being (biologically) = a human being (sociologically)?
By which I mean: If, as in this case, a human develops to biological adulthood, but sociological/mental development is stunted/not complete (as judged by a more or less “normal” human in, say, a tribal society, or any other example you care to name)…Are they “human” in the sense we usually associate to the term?
Or are they closer to the “less evolved” humans in the past?
And stuff and things…perhaps not getting my point across well.
Digs, if you're interested in "Genie" (real name Susan Wiley), you can learn more about her here:
Genie Wiley - RoyalWeb
Apparently she reunited with her biological mother, who visited her in the adult care facility where she currently resides (there is a picture of the two of them).
Before dying in 2003, Genie's mother filed suit against the California authorities who removed Genie and held her for testing.
I've been to Cambodia. The jungle there is extremely dangerous, even in the areas beside cities. If she survived in the jungle throughout her entire life then she's probably better off there. I mean, look at how foreign nature is to humans who grew up in urban areas; now imagine someone growing up in the jungle and coming to the city. It must be very stressful and confusing.
I agree... I hope they never find her. I understand her family's emotional dilemma, but she is akin to a wild animal and it's pointless to try and train her to be part of human society.
The very notion of feral children makes me wonder what would happen to humans if our civilization ever collapsed.
I was just about to read the article when I saw this:
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A thought - Does a human being (biologically) = a human being (sociologically)?
By which I mean: If, as in this case, a human develops to biological adulthood, but sociological/mental development is stunted/not complete (as judged by a more or less “normal” human in, say, a tribal society, or any other example you care to name)…Are they “human” in the sense we usually associate to the term?
Or are they closer to the “less evolved” humans in the past?
And stuff and things…perhaps not getting my point across well.
More or less what I figured...She is not stunted, she has just adapted to her environment which has been the norm for so long, that reforming her would be a long and arduous process.
She is "normal" considering her surroundings.
I guess it fulfills the idea that, there is no normal.
More or less what I figured...
But still, I wonder what would have developed if she was with several other children in the situation hypothesized? A new language, of sorts?
From a socio-anthropological perspective, we've always been fascinated by feral children- or I should say, by the myth of feral children- as evidenced by their prominence in popular film and literature.
The reality of them is infinitely sadder, although no less interesting.
Most feral children throughout history have not survived more than a few years after being reintegrated into society. Actually, I'm not sure any true ferals have.
Humans, in their feral state, cannot withstand captivity.
I hope they never find her.
I got lost in Google land for quite awhile reading about feral children. One story led to another. God, They're just so tragic.
I hope they never find her either.
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