Koko the gorilla shows signs of abstract thought.
options:
True
False
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is True.
Koko the gorilla, a western lowland gorilla, demonstrated signs of abstract thought through her use of American Sign Language (ASL). She was taught to communicate using a modified version of ASL, learning over 1,000 signs and using them to express her thoughts, desires, and even emotions. This ability is considered a form of abstract thinking because Koko could combine signs to create new meanings and even ask about things that were not immediately present in her environment.
For example, Koko was able to name objects she had never encountered before by combining known signs. She also showed emotional understanding and empathy, particularly with her pet cats, and was able to express complex thoughts like “sad” or “play” when referring to events in her life.
Koko’s communication and interaction with humans demonstrated an ability to think beyond immediate sensory experiences. She could even reflect on past events and speculate about the future, which are hallmarks of abstract thought. This kind of cognitive skill was groundbreaking at the time, as it challenged traditional ideas about the limits of animal intelligence and language capabilities.
Although critics question whether Koko’s communication was truly reflective of independent thought or simply learned behavior prompted by reward, her ability to form new signs and express concepts beyond immediate stimuli supports the idea that she was capable of abstract thinking. This made Koko a pioneering subject in the study of animal cognition and language, opening doors for further exploration into the intellectual capabilities of non-human animals.