Answer to Question #139384 in Psychology for Nijean Lanterna

Question

you are walking in a jungle with your friend Gilbert Ryle and you found a male feral child that has been raised by wolves. Ryle asked you how that child will identify himself. How will you answer in terms that will satisfy your friend?

Answer 1

The child will identify himself as a "homo ferus" human species, which translates to a wild man or wild child. The child is human because he was born of a man and has the same physical and biological characteristics. However, he is of a different species because he has wild or animal-like behavioral features determined by the environment he has grown in.