From Chimpanzee to Human: Analysis of the Evolutionary Roots of Scientific Cognition

This work compares the processes of cognition in great apes, chimpanzees and the processes of scientific cognition in humans. Chimpanzees have a number of cognitive abilities: they are able to generalize a number of stimuli and events, to abstract from secondary features, to form concepts, to predict future situations, and to plan mentally goal-directed behavior. They are able to use symbols and to make simple logical conclusions. Chimpanzees are capable learning intermediary languages of deaf-mutes and using these languages. This paper analyzes the results of biological studies of the cognitive properties of great apes and compares their cognitive abilities with the processes of scientific cognition of nature by humans. The principles of constructing two models of autonomous cognitive agents that can help to understand the evolutionary roots of scientific cognition are analyzed. These models are 1) a model of cognitive activity of great apes and 2) a model illustrating the work of scientists.