Over the years I’ve discovered that those who have the greatest insight into their particular area of expertise are those who take a two-pronged approach. First, they master their material as presented within its discipline. This imbues them with the critical thinking skills and patience for the second step, which is to consider how those same concepts play out in other areas and alter their views based on what they discover. Not only does this approach result in a more comprehensive view, it also leads to respect for those in other disciplines.
As a biologist and veterinary ethologist, I have tremendous respect for the work of Stephen Jay Gould and Walt Disney, not only because they greatly advanced our knowledge in their respective fields. I equally respect them because of what they have have contributed to my understanding of animal behavior and the human-animal relationship.
To read Gould’s homage to Mickey Mouse in The Panda’s Thumb, click here.
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