Introspection In An Elephant Crackup By Charles Siebert

Humans have the great ability to mediate any of their own actions, which in turn allows them to think greatly about how they act and treat others, while formulating an internal debate of whether their actions are commendable or poor. Introspection is an imperative for humans to have the proper view and respect for other individuals, including those of a different species. It allows us to look at our actions towards others and trade places with others to see if how it would feel to be in their place using our own feelings and experience. If in a conflict, then this method can justify whether or not a correct decision was made so that it would not negatively one’s self or another. Without using this feature we cannot understand the plights …show more content…
In “An Elephant Crackup” by Charles Siebert, it becomes apparent that the influences of our actions stretch beyond just other humans; they can affect other species too, which in this case are elephants. The HEC category was created in the mid-1990s as a result of growing human-elephant conflicts that led to many deaths and unstable personas. Humans like to have a social structure, where we are taught and raised by our knowledgeable elders and then follow in their footsteps. If the process goes well, without any highly stressful and scarring events, then we gain even more stable and knowledgeable individuals in our society. This process is usually hindered through the violent acts of humans, such as war, which causes devastating consequences for the younger generations. Elephants have similar human emotions and experiences as us, especially when considering their great mental capacity. “When an elephant dies, its family members engage in intense mourning and burial rituals, conducting weeklong vigils over the body” (Siebert 355). Through these actions and rituals, it becomes clear that elephants have the ability to love, care, and grieve for one another. This is extremely similar to how humans perform last rites for one another at their time of death to show their emotions towards another member of their species and society. “Young elephants are raised within an extended, multitiered network of doting female caregivers” (Siebert 355). Similarly like humans, elephants have a huge and important social and scientific structure that helps in the creation of a great individual for their species and a better society. As such similarities become more apparent, it questions the assumption whether humans are the only ones with higher cognitive capabilities. As this assumption is proven to be wrong, it