Chapter 19, In the Shadow of Man Summary and Analysis

Man's evolution has occurred due to the evolution of his extraordinary brain, and chimpanzee brains are like the brains of humans. It can engage in primitive reasoning and is more like the human brain than any other. For one, they use tools but tool-using does not necessarily indicate intelligence (Galapagos woodpecker finches use tools).

But when animals can use many tools for many purposes then it can solve a wide array of new problems. Gombe Stream chimps can do this and are excellent tool-makers as well. Other chimps can learn from the tools of other chimps as well. In fact, given time, chimp communities might evolve greater intelligence on their own.

Chimp behaviors, gestures and postures often resemble those of humans; they even comfort one another during periods of anxiety. There...