Her Findings Redefined The Definition Of Man

At the age of 26, Goodall produced a finding that is regarded as one of the pinnacles of 20th-century scholarship: chimpanzees can create and use tools. Her discovery was made at a time when it was assumed that only humans manufactured and utilized tools, and when people were referred to as "Man the Tool Maker." Dr. Louis Leakey, Goodall's mentor, stated in response to this finding, "We either now redefine man, redefine tools, or recognize chimpanzees as humans." In addition, Goodall noted that chimpanzees fight with nearby communities, that they are capable of altruism, and that they consume meat.

The historical discovery of tool use in chimpanzee populations revealed not only behavioral similarities between us and our closest living relatives (and undoubtedly more information about our shared ancestry), but also revealed that non-human animal lives were much more complex than we had previously thought. In addition, this catapulted Jane, with the help of her mentor Louis Leakey, into academia where she was continually criticized and dismissed for her approaches to learning. Her thesis and scientific achievements, which helped her research overcome skeptics, have had a huge impact on thousands of other discoveries, revolutionized how primatology and biology are studied, and inspired a generation of women to pursue careers in science. The ramifications of this revelation are still being felt today and are fostering fresh perspectives on the crucial questions of human evolution and the similarities and differences between humans and other species.