Original Intelligence: The Architecture of the Human Mind (Hardcover)

by David Premack (Author), Ann Premack (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Reveals the innate characteristics of human intelligence

Humans are the inheritors of millenia of animal evolution­­indeed, a mere 1.6 percent genetic difference separates us from our closest relative, the chimp­­and yet clearly human intelligence is a thing apart. Leading experimental psychologist David Premack and his long-time collaborator, Ann Premack, have made an extraordinary joint career of teasing out exactly what are the deep characteristics of the human mind that separates us from our closest animal relatives. In Original Intelligence, the Premacks draw upon years of brilliant experimental work of their own and others with animals and children, and human babies as young as four months. Carefully comparing and contrasting the abilities of animals and humans, they present compelling evidence for the existence of "modules," or inborn intuitions that enable even extremely young humans to recognize basic physical laws such as gravity, do arithmetic, draw analogies, understand music, and, of course use language. Finally, they explore the psychological, social, and ethical implications of these findings, and offer prescriptions for how educational methods should be reformed in light of this new understanding of how the mind works.

From the Back Cover
About six million years ago, the common population shared by chimpanzees and humans diverged into separate groups, one becoming chimpanzee, the other Australopithecus, the first link in our long human lineage. And while the human lineage left Africa and migrated across the face of the earth, the chimpanzees, unable to construct a technology that makes migration possible, have remained marooned for over five million years in a small corner of Africa.

A mere 1.6% genetic difference separates us from the chimpanzee, our closest relative. Yet the human brain is more than two-and-a-half times larger than that of the chimpanzee, and human intelligence is a thing apart. While many have pondered this difference, few have put their finger on just what separates the human mind from the rest of the animal world.

In Original Intelligence, leading experimental psychologist David Premack and his long-time collaborator, Ann Premack present an extraordinary joint effort in teasing out exactly what are the deep characteristics of the human mind as they draw upon their years of brilliant experimentation. Carefully comparing and contrasting the abilities of animals and humans, they theorize that more than just the capacity for language has distinguished our minds from those of our animal ancestors. In elegant prose, they present compelling evidence for the presence of inborn intuitions, showing that even babies too young to be influenced by education and socialization can do arithmetic, draw analogies, understand music, use language, and even recognize basic physical laws such as gravity. Delving even further, as they explore the social implications of their findings, the authors set up a clarion call for education reform. Evolution, the Premacks attest, has dealt us a "promising hand" of extraordinary intelligence. It is now up to us to use it intelligently.

Finally, they explore the psychological, social, and ethical implications of these findings, and offer prescriptions for reforming educational methods in light of this new understanding of how the mind works.

Their approach to education exploits what evolution has already "taught" the child. It builds on the intuitions given the child by evolution. It links skills for which the child lacks evolutionary preparation, such as reading and writing, to skills for which the child is prepared. Finally it teaches the child how to control those intuitions that collide with the modern world.

Tomorrow's children, the beneficiaries of this education, will better understand what sets them apart as human. Knowing themselves, how their mind and brain work, humans will be better able to cope with their own savagery, better able to share with others, human and animal, the world that is entrusted to their care.

Trace the architecture of human intelligence with one of the world's top experimental psychologists.

"We are a complex species which nevertheless must decipher our own complexity. It would be marvelous if we could get some help--could contact a qualified party from another world, exchange views of each other's mind, and speed up the process of understanding in both parties. But we are alone. There are no other parties, no other problem-solving species to be found.

Yet the human capacity for problem solving is extraordinary. And for the past 20 years or so, humans have turned the capacity on themselves--rather than on quarks, neutrons, genes, etc.--and have begun to penetrate their own mind, clarifying both the neural processes and the mental capacities of which the mind consists. We are beginning to understand who we are, not in the sense of a philosphical treatise, but in the sense of science, the only sense, so far as we can see, in which we can defeat the ignorance which is our real enemy. To do justice to ourselves and to the world in which we live, we must have an understanding of ourselves."

--from the Conclusion

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (August 12, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071381422
• ISBN-13: 978-0071381420
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #952,116 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Original Intelligence -- An excellent look into other minds, January 2, 2003

By	Kent Berridge (Ann Arbor, MI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Original Intelligence is a tremendously valuable book for readers who want to understand the nature of human infants and other minds, extending even to chimpanzees and beyond. It may well be regarded as a classic book in psychology for years to come.

Premack and Premack were foremost leaders in psychological research on chimpanzee cognition in the 1970s -1980s. For the past 15 years, they have focused their study on the cognitive competencies of human infants. No one is better positioned therefore to identify unique aspects of human minds. They tackle deep issues: concepts of intentionality, causality, and the cognitive operations involved in language. In addition, Premack and Premack provide fascinating comparisons to chimpanzee cognition, drawn from their own and other studies, which help illuminate both psychological similarities and differences between apes and us.

As talented researchers themselves, Premack and Premack draw often and expertly upon best evidence from experimental studies both of human children and of animals. Perhaps a reader may need to be willing to work a bit in following that evidence, but if so will be rewarded by a truly insightful commentary. Premack and Premack have first-hand research experience, a broad perspective, and capacity for penetrating analysis in a combination that is equaled by no one.

As a psychology prof who sometimes teaches about human versus animal minds, I regard Original Intelligence to be a landmark book I'll keep for rereading many times. It is an excellent book for anyone who wants to understand human infants and other minds.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, bold, and beautifully written, January 10, 2003

By	"vervetmonkey" (burlington, vt Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

This book is a gem. The science is pure unadulterated Premack. Creative beyond our times. In contrast to many of the touchy-feely books about animals that are based largely on intuition, unconstrained by the lack of theory, Original Intelligence is precisely the opposite. Armed witih the tools of a cognitive scientist, and the clarity of a philospher of mind, Premack approaches the minds of animals in the most sophisticated fashion. There are so many new ideas in this book that both students of animals science, as well as pet owners and animal lovers, will have years and years of things to think about and test.

But not only are the ideas extraordinary, so too are the wonderful experiments on chimpanzees. Their beauty lies in their simplicity. One constantly has this nagging feeling: why didn't i think of that!

Perhaps most important of all, it is written with beautiful clarity and warmth. One hears the authors voices and sentiments. It's almost as good as having a book on tape. Anyone interested in what animals think, and critically, how we should think about their thinking in relation to ours, MUST pick up this book.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastically clear and engaging., January 16, 2003

By A Customer

One of the problems with the study of mental phenomenon is that everyone thinks they are, or can become, an expert. Nowhere is this deeply inaccurate intuition more prominently displayed than in the study of animal minds. Over the last 30 or so years, however, a group of scientists have begun to chisel away at this problem using carefully articulated theories, clever experiments, and the good will of animals in the wild and in captivity. The architect for many of the relevant theories, and a large number of the clever experiments, is David Premack. Now, in this exceptionally profound book, Premack not only walks the reader through his mind, showcasing how carefully reasoned arguments can be converted into simple experiments, but unleashes a wealth of new ideas that should keep the field going for a long time to come. But if you think this is only for the academic crowd, think again. Beautifully written in collaboration with his wife Ann, this book should be mandatory reading for all those who have pets, or who work in zoos, and wish to gain new insights into what animals think and feel. The study of animal cognition is not like astrophysics. You don't need the math and you don't need the high tech, zillion dollar equipment. You need the right theories, some simple experiments that can be done with equipment from your local [store] or pet store, and good eyes to watch and document what the animals does. In Original Intelligence, the Premacks have provided all the ingredients. Bon appetite!