The quote talks about the beginning of a new way of thinking. With this new “trans-species psyche” humans and elephants are thought of as one and the same. Humans are seen as part of the elephant’s life and an essential part of their family. Elephants are accepted into human lives and valued in the same way they value their normal family members. In a way, elephants and humans are part of the same species. The author sees the sanctuary as the beginning of a period where elephants and humans are treated the same way. Humans won't help elephants because the elephants are attacking them; they will assist because they care about the health of the elephants. This is the beginning of elephants and humans being connected on a deeper emotional level.
It is very true that humans should not want to help the elephants because they attack us, but because we just want to help them for the sake of helping.
ReplyDeleteThe concept of elephants and humans being the same species in a way is interesting.
ReplyDeleteHow about the quote on page on 537:
ReplyDelete"The question we are now forced to grapple with is whether we mind a future without them..." He goes on to point out a "paradox" about why we are saving elephants? What does he mean by that?
I think the author is trying to get us to think about what the future looks like if we continue to have the same mind state. Currently we are just looking to protect ourselves from elephants. So we will help them until they stop attacking humans, then humans will take advantage of the fact that elephants let their guard down, then the cycle starts all over again with elephants attacking humans again and people will wonder why this is happening again.
ReplyDeleteIt is not enough to just patch up the scars we made. We have to change our view about elephnats and animals in general.