animal magic

Animal Magic

For anyone who read yesterday's post who was a kid in England in the

1970s, it might be possible to think that I was referring to the guy

who presented animal behaviour from Bristol Zoo every week on

children's television. There are many similarities, but one

fundamental difference.

Both characters had an infectious love of wildlife in all its forms.

Both had long and varied careers across the mass media of the

twentieth century. Both presented television programmes that showed

nature at its most basic level - great popularisation to some, dumbing

down to others.

However, the fundamental thesis presented by Desmond Morris was that

people behave like other animals. The fundamental thesis presented by

Johnny Morris was that other animals behave like people. Both

arguments have elements of truth. But anthropomorphism of other

animals has less relevance to economic policy than zoomorphism of

other humans.

Or to put it another way, dubbing an elephant with a silly voice may

be very funny but it is not very educational.