Animal Quote by Ibn Khaldun
![“Beyond [known peoples of black West Africa] to the south there is no civilization in the proper sense. There are only humans who are closer to dumb animals than to rational beings. They live in thickets and caves, and eat herbs and unprepared grain. They frequently eat each other. They cannot be…” quote by Ibn Khaldun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/52a/ibn-khaldun-24349_animal_beyond-known-peoples-of-black-west-afric_687710.jpg)
“Beyond [known peoples of black West Africa] to the south there is no civilization in the proper sense. There are only humans who are closer to dumb animals than to rational beings. They live in thickets and caves, and eat herbs and unprepared grain. They frequently eat each other. They cannot be considered human beings.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Muqaddimah by Ibn Khaldun, 1377
The author claims that peoples south of West Africa lack civilization, describing them as primitive and animal-like.
In simple terms: He portrays southern West Africans as uncivilized.
Key Takeaway
Question the basis of civilizational judgments.
Themes
civilization
ethnocentrism
humanity
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
historical
controversial
When to use this quote
- historical analysis
- education curricula
- media representation
Key Concepts
colonialism
cultural bias
anthropology
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence contradicts this view?
- How does language shape our perception of cultures?
A Different Perspective
Such sweeping statements ignore archaeological evidence of complex societies.
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![“...[M]an and generally any rational being exists as an end in himself, not merely as a means to be arbitrarily used by this or that will, but in all his actions, whether they concern himself or other rational beings, must always be regarded at the same time as an end... [R]ational beings... are…” quote by Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5ff/immanuel-kant-532_freedom_m-an-and-generally-any-rational-being-ex_892667.jpg)
![“Therefore, the Negro nation are, as a rule, submissive to slavery, because [Negroes] have little [that is essentially] human and have attributes that are quite similar to those of dumb animals, as we have stated.” quote by Ibn Khaldun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b6d/ibn-khaldun-24349_animal_therefore-the-negro-nation-are-as-a-rule_516748.jpg)
