What is anthropomorphism?
This page explains the notion of anthropomorphism, and introduces a range of examoples from various sources such as sicence books and science journalism.
Anthropomorphism is the ascribing of human feelings, thinking, motives etc., to non-human entities. Anthropomorphism is a common feature of scientific discourse. It is sometimes used in teaching and science communication as a kind of figure of speech that is not meant to be taken literally. However, when learners use anthropomorphic language in science this may be a sign of alternative conceptions, as they may consider an anthropomorphic explanation to be scientifically valid.
(Read about 'Learners' anthropomorphic thinking')
(Read about 'alternative conceptions')
That is anthropomorphism may support 'pseudo-explanations': explanations that have the superficial form of scientific explanations, but which have no scientific merit.
Usually anthropomorphic references are not intended literally – rather they may be seen as a sub-class of metaphors. Other examples of metaphors in scientific writing and discourse may be found at:
Read about examples of scientific metaphors
Sometimes such metaphors may be used as ordinary language does not seem to offer resources to describe phenomena revealed under experimental circumstances distant from everyday experience, as in quantum mechanics, where it is suggested the scientists may
"be obliged to say, on the one hand, that the photon always chooses one of the two ways [but] it is hardly reasonable to endow nature with volition in the ordinary sense" [Neil Bohr: 'photon chooses its path']
"In any attempt of a pictorial representation of the behaviour of the photon we would, thus, meet with the difficulty: to be obliged to say, on the one hand, that the photon always chooses one of the two ways and, on the other hand, that it behaves as if it had passed both ways. …
"The question was whether, as to the occurrence of individual effects, we should adopt the terminology proposed by Dirac, that we were concerned with a choice on the part of 'nature', or, as suggested by Heisenberg, we should sat that we have to do with a choice on the part of the 'observer' constructing the measuring instruments and reading their recording Any such terminology would, however, appear dubious since, on the one hand, it is hardly reasonable to endow nature with volition in the ordinary sense, while on the other hand, it is certainly not possible for the observer to influence the events which may appear under the conditions he has arranged. To my mind, there is no other alternative than to admit that, in this field of experience, we are dealing with individual phenomena and that our possibilities of handling the measuring instruments allow us only to make a choice between the different complementary types of phenomena we want to study."
Anthropomorphism in public discourse
Anthropomorphism is common in talk about science, such as new reports and documentaries. It may be adopted inadvertently, or may be a deliberate attempt to communicate science using anthropomorphism as technique for 'making the unfamiliar familiar'
(Read about 'Making the unfamiliar familiar')
As suggested above, many of these examples may be meant metaphorically, but taken literally imply inanimate objects can act as deliberate agents in the world.
Examples of anthropomorphism in public communication of science
I have collected together a range of examples of anthropomorphism from such sources as the writings of scientists, popular science writing, and science journalism, that are listed here:
Read about examples of anthropomorphism
