Dont know if this has been posted before or mentioned somehow, but ive been thinking about this for a while, just imagining. We all know that every human being is born innocent, because we dont know better, we haven't learnt if you will. As we grow and develop we are influenced and morphed by society and its evils; media, language, education, to the people we are and the way we present ourselves.

To quote Rousseau here; "man is born free and everywhere he is chains". Well what if a group of scientists or researchers set out to see how this would all play out in a different way.

What if a baby, once born was kept in solitary confinement for the first couple of years of its life just so it can physically fend for itself and then put on an island. The island would be uninhabited and completely unaffected and untouched by the man made world. How would this child develop, how would it speak, talk. Basically, how much of a difference would there between this child and a child who is born and is 'normally' placed into society?

Just a question ive been pondering, dont know if this is the right forum. I just associated 'origins' with this.

No one has any thoughts on this?

This was done earlier last century...I think they called the girl "Lucy" or something...I went looking for links, but couldn't find any.

Basically she was feral, never learned to talk as I recall.

Maybe someone remembers this from first year psychology? Help me out here.

Originally posted by midnightbrigade
This was done earlier last century...I think they called the girl "Lucy" or something...I went looking for links, but couldn't find any.

Basically she was feral, never learned to talk as I recall.

Maybe someone remembers this from first year psychology? Help me out here.

I guessed that there was something done like this, i tried to search with 'Lucy' alone and found nothing. Anyone have any information?

Originally posted by serbsta
No one has any thoughts on this?

innocence would be equated as completely guiltless of any offense?

If he did something directly against his self interest, would he be guilty of an offense against himself, hence yielding his innocence?

Would walking on hot sand burining his feet or staying out in the sun too long be the baby steps toward more offenses against his self interest?

is this "universal common sense" ..or is this "knowingly offensing?"

p.s. I'm sure some private secret research group has studied every aspect of what you're presenting here ten fold... 50 yrs ago.


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Well from what we do know of cases where similar has happened, the child will be able to function in the environment it grew up in. Over time it may be able to be 'trained' to "work" but due to it not having and social stimulus, it will never learn any social skills.

As for guilt... Well I doubt it would have the capacity to hold that concept. I doubt that it will know or be able to learn between right and wrong- only what is beneficial and what is not (as in it is bad to steel food from gorilas because they will get angry and violent, but it might be a good thing to steel from a bird).

It's mind would function on the level of an wild animal.

Question.


Why is this on the origins forum? Wouldn't a more suitable place be 'Psychology, Philosophy & Metaphysics' or something?

Originally posted by Astyanax
According to Christian doctrine, every human being is born guilty, carrying the burden of Original Sin.

Ha, kinda silly when you think about it, isn't it.

[edit on 11/11/2008 by Good Wolf]