On 14 August 2008 Stephen Black wrote [snip]: > As for the feral child issue, the case has limited scientific value, for > the same reason that applies to the others, such the Wild Boy of Aveyron > and Genie. It's impossible to ascertain how much of her retardation and > speech impairment is congenital, and how much a result of her deprived > upbringing.
Joan Warmbold responded [snip]: >...but appreciating how unique and extremely deprived the environments > of these children are--as per children raised in orphanages with extensive > deprivation of human interactions--one should be able to make certain > assumptions about nurture versus nature. Agreed - but we should take care not generalise unwarrantedly from extreme cases of deprivation to more typical childhood experiences. Allen Esterson Former lecturer, Science Department Southwark College, London http://www.esterson.org --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
