RE: Apes Make and Use Tools
September 15, 2012 at 11:09 am
(This post was last modified: September 15, 2012 at 11:12 am by Whateverist.)
(September 3, 2012 at 6:37 pm)jonb Wrote: I find this a very interesting area, there is a thing I haver noticed, which I have not found reference to in any of the literature.
In all the troupes of primates where invention has been observed that I know about, it has invariably been low status individuals within the group that have been the most inventive.
Chimpanzees making noise with found paint tins, in Jane Goodalls work were all low status males.
The Japanese monkeys on the beach sifting grain from sand, inventing and learning was all done by females low in the hierarchy.
I just might just be a coincidence, but it is also odd how many great inventions did not come from those in the know, but from low status people that life was seeming to pass by.
Necessity can be quite a mother I guess. It makes some sense that individuals who are most adept making their living in the prescribed way wouldn't need to find another way. Those with the least access to the easy meal would have more reason to mess around sifting grain from the sand.
(September 9, 2012 at 1:18 pm)Red Celt Wrote: I loved the TED video of the crows. As a crow philosopher, that will make more sense when I (later) explain what the hell I mean by calling myself that.
As for the thread subject name "RE: Apes Make and Use Tools", I read those words on a tool made by apes (an Apple display monitor). We are, after all, apes.
Yep. I wondered when I saw the title if I'd open it to see a photo of a human with a wrench or some such. Humans, the other ape.
