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Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human

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Nim Chimpsky was a chimpanzee who was taught to communicate using sign language. He was the subject of a famous experiment that attempted to teach him to think like a human. The experiment was ultimately unsuccessful, but Nim's story is still a fascinating one.

Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human

by Elizabeth Hess

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2674 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Print length	:	384 pages

Nim's Early Life

Nim was born in Oklahoma in 1973. He was taken from his mother at a young age and brought to Columbia University, where he was raised by a human family. Nim was quickly taught to sign language, and he soon became proficient in using it to communicate.

Nim's teachers believed that he was capable of learning to think like a human. They taught him about language, mathematics, and even philosophy. Nim was able to learn a great deal, but he was never able to fully grasp the complexities of human thought.

The Experiment

In 1977, Nim was moved to the Institute for Primate Studies in Oklahoma. There, he became the subject of a famous experiment that attempted to teach him to think like a human. The experiment was led by psychologist Herbert Terrace.

Terrace and his team used a variety of methods to try to teach Nim to think like a human. They taught him about language, mathematics, and even philosophy. They also tried to teach him to use tools and to solve problems.

The experiment was ultimately unsuccessful. Nim was never able to fully grasp the complexities of human thought. However, he did learn a great deal, and he was able to communicate with his human teachers using sign language.

Nim's Later Life

After the experiment, Nim was moved to a sanctuary in Texas. He lived there for many years, and he continued to communicate with his human caregivers using sign language.

Nim died in 2000 at the age of 26. He was one of the most famous chimpanzees in the world, and his story is still a fascinating one.

Nim's Legacy

Nim's story has helped us to learn more about the nature of animal intelligence. It has also shown us the importance of compassion and respect for all living creatures.

Nim was a unique and special chimpanzee. He was a pioneer in the field of animal communication, and he helped us to learn more about the nature of human thought.