On one hand, I think that it’s fair to point out, and an interesting point.
But…on the other hand, I also think that generally when people say “we did X”, they’re often including people who aren’t their direct ancestors. And the degree to which they do that is context-dependent. Though they probably aren’t going back anything like 20 million years, either, in any kind of common context.
What’s our closest living relative?
searches
Looks like chimpanzees and bonobos, and our last common ancestor was maybe 5–13 million years back.
I guess we would include 'em in “we” if someone was saying “we left the oceans”. But they aren’t gonna make the in-group for “we won that sports game last night”.
On one hand, I think that it’s fair to point out, and an interesting point.
But…on the other hand, I also think that generally when people say “we did X”, they’re often including people who aren’t their direct ancestors. And the degree to which they do that is context-dependent. Though they probably aren’t going back anything like 20 million years, either, in any kind of common context.
What’s our closest living relative?
searches
Looks like chimpanzees and bonobos, and our last common ancestor was maybe 5–13 million years back.
I guess we would include 'em in “we” if someone was saying “we left the oceans”. But they aren’t gonna make the in-group for “we won that sports game last night”.