Aspe Genius: Documentary Analysis

Humanity is unique in its ability to learn and to teach others. This ability is what allowed us as a people to learn and to grow together. This evolution allowed for us to next question the existing paradigms; with questioning, we can identify biases and further our understanding of the world. While these are incredibly important parts of humanity, “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.” (Eden Ahbez). Love is the most important thing we can ever receive, and through it we can do many things. Humanities great wish for immortality, can be realized through love. As the closest we can get is to create something that will outlast ourselves, children. Through them a piece of the parent lives on, and through
As we saw in “Ape Genius”, the apes could observe others and learn how to use tools, for example, as we saw them with sticks used to retrieve insects; but they couldn’t teach others this new skill they had acquired. The apes could merely learn from observation, this meant that there is no furthering of these ideas. The ideas could not evolve, and were stuck at the primitive level that they were originally learned at. In the documentary, we see scientists attempting to teach apes and in turn have them teach others by performing a variety of experiments. Even with human intervention the apes still could not teach others, this ability to both learn and teach seems to be purely a human one. One that allows for us to grow and evolve together, as a people. Meno also shows us how we can learn from other people, Socrates leads Meno on a journey of understanding the correct meaning of virtue. Socrates asks Meno many questions that help to tailor his thinking and push him in the direction of understanding the true meaning. Together they can reach a definition that suits them
While it's unlikely and unfortunate that we will not become enlightened like the Inca’s in the near future, his book does give us a good roadmap as to how to live life. In this current political climate, it's incredibly easy to turn on the news and see nothing but hate, and to be negatively affected by it. Redfield’s ideas of introspection, love, and being aware of what you project out into the world seem more mindful and necessary than ever. Hopefully all this hate and negativity that we are currently seeing will inspire people to look within themselves for positivity and love. Questioning this hateful status quo is the first step towards changing