Koko the Gorilla- The Case for Inclusion in the Moral Circle By defined as Audrey Peterson Communicating Thought- For Descartes, the ability to communicate pure thought rather than natural impulses such as fear, anger, hunger, etc. mark the difference between humans and animals. Human communication has been defined by anthropologists as having three characteristics thought to be unique to humans: Productivity - the ability to create new words and phrases Conventionality - the ability to assign a name to something Displacement - the ability to communicate thoughts about abstract things, things not present, things happening in the future or that have happened in the past, and so forth. The video A Conversation with Koko means to challenge the claim that these abilities are unique to humans, given the many examples of communicating thought displayed by Koko and Michael. Productivity Koko uses the word browse for lettuces and such, developed using the sign for eyebrow, suggesting Koko realized the familiarity of the sounds in each word and used that familiarity to create a new word. Koko has adapted sings to her form, mainly her larger hands and smaller thumb. The sign for the letter K is not possible for a gorilla hand, as it requires an extension of the thumb upward on the palm. Koko has created her name by simply folding her hand into a peace sign shape and tapping her shoulder. Koko has changed the word visit as well. The word, normally signed using a hand shape similar to the letter K, is impossible for her to reproduce accurately. She instead taps both shoulders with the hand turned in and down and fingers tucked together.
Koko varies the use of a signed hurry, depending on the immediacy she requires. Koko and Michael both use the sign stink for flowers and the sign for good for yes. Conventionality Conventionality is most noticeable in the naming of her kittens: All Ball, Smokey, and the newest addition, Blackie. Koko named all of her cats based on appearance. All Ball, named for the shape he made all curled up, Smokey was a longhaired gray cat, and Blackie is a much darker version of Smokey. Trying to convey the idea of a brush, Koko used descriptive words she already knew to better enhance her meaning and thus gain the understanding of the staff by signing scratch and comb. Koko uses simple descriptions to name things she does not have a sign for such as quiet chase for hide and seek, eye hat for a mask, and finger bracelet for a ring. Displacement Michael s creation of art from memory, such as the game of chase played with his favorite dog, called apple chase. The painting was created with black and white, the colors of the dog, even though Michael was offered many colors to choose from. Michael died suddenly of heart failure in June of 2000. Koko and Ndume vocalized their grief for Michael night after night, and in the first few weeks following Michaels passing, Koko signed that she would like a light left on at night. The evening that Michael died, Koko searched through his rooms looking for him, and inquired as to where he was. When told he was gone, she cried out and went back to her room. For weeks after, when asked what she wanted she would sign Mike. Michael recalled, when asked about his mother- squash meat gorilla, sharp noise loud, bad think trouble look face, cut neck girl hole. The body language he displays resonates with me the most. It seems as though, through recounting what happened when he was young, he is very conscious and aware of what he is communicating. Afterward, he seems to realize what he has signed and has a moment of reflection.
Koko shows her understanding of future concepts when she is told that she may have one more glass of water, then she must turn the faucet off. She does this after she gets another glass of water. Koko understands the behaviors she is expected to control. An example of this would be the filming of her sneaking paper into her mouth while Penny is away, every time looking over her shoulder, with a very distinguishable look of known misbehavior. When it is discovered Koko has been bed, she signs that she was bad, and that she is sorry, showing remorse for past events. Koko shows understanding of abstract ideas when she asks for a kitten and shows understanding of the loss of the cat when it is gone. Upon selecting a new cat, Koko displays a greater ability of selectiveness when she passes on many offered kittens, selecting one that has similar characteristics to her first cat, mainly the lack of a tail. Koko understands of pregnancy, as displayed when the baby of a staffer is presented and she signs stomach in reference as to where the baby came from is astounding. As is her treatment of her gorilla dolls as compared to the treatment of her other dolls. Koko teaches her gorilla dolls sign language and makes them sign back, signs such as eat and mouth and more. These are some of the first signs she was taught. Koko showed great excitement at the proposal of adding another gorilla baby and showed disappointment at the arrival of the new gorilla. She was upset by the age of the new gorilla, as he was not a baby, but a toddler. She expressed this by signing wrong and old. I do believe Koko is thinking and conscious. On the Gorilla Foundation website, they have a video where they offer Koko the choices of how she can get a baby/family. They have written down, with some illustration, four ways for Koko to get a family. One baby comes, two adult females come, one adult male and two females come, or one baby and two toddlers come. She seems to ponder for a few seconds, and then selects the most natural family setting for gorillas, two females coming to be with her and Ndume, taking pressure off her and allowing things to happen more naturally. Descartes is flawed in his opinion that there may be some [animals] with an instinctive, cunning ability to deceive even the shrewdest humans by observing or imitating humans actions, but not guided by our thoughts. The mourning process of Koko and Ndume for their brother and friend was not guided by their human interactions, but by their true feeling of sorrow, grief, and loss. The evidence of Koko forming her own words, or altering words, to better suit her communication with us shows either a non-human animal capable of complex thought or the most instinctive, cunning animal in existence, I would think the probability of the latter being much less likely.
Should Koko be granted access into the moral circle (and by extension legal rights too)? The definition of morality as defined by the dictionary is: 1. Principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior. 2. Behavior as it is affected by the observation of these principles. Therefore, I would conclude that to be included in The Moral Circle is to be considered when a distinction of moral or ethical principle is made. My criterion for Moral Value is the ability of higher thought or intellect. I would not include insects or single cell organisms because I think, as decisions are considered- trying to include all forms of life would create a stale mate. You cannot reach a decision that will not adversely affect something. I would create a secondary, overlapping moral circle to include seemingly less significant things that should also have consideration. Some questions of morality would then include, for example: Polluting the ocean does not immediately affect whales, porpoises, or humans but does immediately harm many smaller species that may not be included in the moral circle as I define it but will eventually lead to harm of beings included in the moral circle. So should we pollute the ocean? Clearing forests will adversely affect primates, but we need the space for our growing population. By my definition, both would be included in the moral circle, so who would take higher priority? Especially when you add the factor of clearing the forests may cause harm to all involved later. Our food sources, such as livestock, should be treated better, fed better, and allowed to live more naturally because this will create a more healthy and sustainable food supply for us directly. I would agree that my Moral Circles are less than ideal, but I think they are more realistic than idealistic. Who honestly considers a fly s welfare when making the decision to clean up a dogs mess?
Therefore, by my definition of inclusion in the Moral Circles all gorillas, including Koko, would be included because they possess higher thought and intellect. Koko has proven over the course of almost forty years that she understands and can reciprocate independent thought. She understands consequences and the actions that bring about these consequences, such as when she misbehaves in the beginning of the documentary. It would be tricky to allow her legal rights in full, as she is not free in the legal sense, but has committed no crime. It would be hard in today s politically correct society to allow her rights as a citizen, but in the rights of the moral circle, I would respect the rights of Koko and other gorillas. I would say that when making moral decisions concerning gorillas, their values, interests, and welfare would be taken into consideration.