Ethology (~comparative psychology) started with 'beware anthropomorphization' as a methodological principle. But a century of research taught us the real lesson: animals do think, just not like humans. The scientific rigor wasn't wrong - but the conclusion shifted from 'they don't think' to 'they have their own ways of thinking.' We might be at a similar inflection point with AI. The question isn't whether Claude thinks or feels like a human (it probably doesn't), but whether it thinks or feels at all (maybe a little? It sure looks that way sometimes. Empiricism demands a closer look!).

We don't say submarines can swim either. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't watch out for them when sailing on the ocean - especially if you're Tom Hanks.