Let's Agree To Disagree

From the third set of quotes, one can conclude that both Abram and Siebert have contrasting views concerning human beings and the world around them. Siebert took pride in the concept of the “trans-species psyche”, which Bradshaw came up with. He believed that humans and elephants, as well as other creatures in extension, would be able to understand each other due to the psyche which they all shared. While there are people that believe in this concept, Abram’s view contradicted this. In a sense Abram had an “anthropomorphic” point of view, which Siebert dreaded. His view of animals and their place in the world is keeping him from seeing the connection between humans and animals that Siebert recognized. His constant use of phrases such as, the “Others” and “we live in our bodies” serves as a way of reinforcing his view that humans and animals will always be different. Stating “we live in our bodies” is Abram’s way of thinking that humans cannot shift their point of view. He believed we will only be able to see things through our own eyes instead of all the other creatures of the world. Instead of referring to humans and animals as “family” such as the way Siebert acknowledged them, Abram calls them “Others” as in anything other than human. Not noting humans and animals as similar figures does not blur the line between humans and animals, but defines it. Abram doesn’t believe we should “be elephants”, but instead we should just live out our lives as human beings and just notice the similar culture between humans and animals. While Abrams and Siebert maybe well respected researchers, this is just a topic they will have to agree to disagree on.