Descartesí Distinction
Descartes now notes that the differences between humans and animals is the same as that
between humans and machines.
Animals have no reason; they behave as do machines, strictly governed by their
Descartesí argument recast (ß59):
Animals are in some things superior to humans.
e.g., many are faster and stronger
But, animals that are superior to us in some respects are inferior in others.
If animals had intelligence, then they should be superior to us in every respect.
Every human, no matter how dull-witted or stupid, learns to use a language.
But no animal does however intelligent.
This shows that the reason that animals do not learn language is not because they are less intelligent than humans (because even the stupidest human - even stupider than a smart monkey - learns language), but because they have no intelligence at all.
It does not require intelligence to learn to speak.