The idea that humans are uniquely rational has long been a cornerstone of Western thought, dating back to Aristotle. He believed that rationality involves forming beliefs based on evidence and being willing to reassess them. According to Jan M. Engelmann, an anthropologist at the University of California, Berkeley, this view has shaped how we see ourselves in relation to animals.

However, recent studies suggest that chimpanzees may also possess a remarkable level of rationality. Engelmann’s research demonstrates that these primates can evaluate evidence and adjust their beliefs accordingly, challenging the notion that rational thinking is exclusive to humans.

Chimpanzees and Decision-Making

One of the key experiments involved chimpanzees choosing between two boxes, one containing a treat. When researchers shook both and heard rattling from one, the chimps consistently selected the box with the noise—indicating an understanding of evidence and cause-and-effect. This behavior suggests that their decision-making process is more sophisticated than previously assumed.

Leading scientists argue that such findings highlight the importance of recognizing rationality as a continuum across species, rather than a human monopoly. These insights deepen our understanding of primate cognition and raise questions about the evolution of reasoning skills.

David Nield

Dave is a freelance tech journalist with over 20 years covering gadgets, apps, and the web. From Stockport, England, he covers news, features, and reviews for TechRadar, focusing on phones, tablets, and wearables. He ensures top weekend breaking news and has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci, and others. He edited PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook for years. Read me on x.com or linkedin.