PERSISTENCE AND OVERCOMING THE MORGAN CANON

Abstract

In 1894, psychologist Conwy Morgan proposed the methodological principle that we
should not interpret the actions of animals as the result of higher psychic faculties if
those actions can be interpreted by the exercise of faculties lower on the psychic
scale. Known as “Morgan's canon”, this principle was widely adopted in the
psychological studies of animals, especially in the context of behaviorism, in order
to provide objectivity and purge anthropomorphism. In this article, we investigate
issues related to the canon: its antecedents, its influence and its persistence in the
scientific environment. Among the antecedents, we highlight the works of Darwin
and Romanes. We discuss some critical works to the canon and proposals for
alternative methodologies, such as the rescue of the anecdotal method and the
narrow use of the anthropomorphic perspective. We approach ethical and
epistemological issues involved in animal studies, we highlight works that point out
problems in the design of experiments and we point out in these the existence of a
“treacherous” anthropomorphism.