In other words, Ishmael believes that order existed between all the living species in the world well before people evolved into it. Gradually, after many of Ishmael's lessons, Ishmael's student begins to see that people do not have to attempt to conquer and rule the world.
Overall, Ishmael is very critical of humans. The people do several things which the gorilla points out that people do several things which the other species do not do and that, therefore, as a species, people are slightly more dangerous. For example, Ishmael does not think that any species other than humans will kill off its competitors the way that humans do. Farmer
...