The researchers were over eager to interpret the signals and any vague hand movement got translated into some kind of word. Apes tend to flail their hands around in certain patterns anyway which happen to look like certain words in ASL but the researchers always interpreted it as ASL. It’s been conclusivly proven that apes have no grammer structure and are unable to learn it, their messages consist of words in random and ever changing orders. The researchers have still not released the source data for criticism.

And apart from all that, all the apes really learnt is the rather humdrum perform an action get a reward type learning which is something so basic that (if you will excuse the pun :)), a trained monkey could even do.

I’d be interested to read what conclusion or new evidence allowed the accomplishments of those signing apes to be discarded.

This essay is over three years old, too. Good times. Anyway, I expect this one to be replaced by two newer essays with more functional, predictive arguments. First, treating consciousness as a feeling like I did free will. Second, describing how it could emerge using simple computer science analogues. I’m currently corresponding with Christof Koch on this.

I guess this is all the essays you’ll be replying to. I enjoyed your criticisms and welcome you to chat interactively using your preferred messenger service.

Warmly,
Michael