Animal Minds; social adaptability in macaques (Animals)

by David Turell , Wednesday, June 26, 2024, 17:12 (149 days ago) @ xeno6696

"Our study provides rare evidence of an abrupt change in selection on sociality in the face of a large and persistent ecological disturbance. These findings show the potential of social flexibility to provide resilience to rapid and unpredictable environmental fluctuations in animals and emphasize a dynamic link between the environment and fitness consequences of social behavior."

David: Comment: that the monkeys were able to change their social behavior when forced with survival issues is not surprising. "I have to tolerate them to have shade" is a self-serving decision. It does not represent empathy.

Matt: I think this comment glances by the more critical point that there isn't an intrinsic drive to dominate and push away 'the other' There's a tendency in Darwinism (thanks to Spencer) to view species as a more concrete thing than they really are.

This study demonstrates comparatively that different species can find non-destructive solutions when it comes to resource sharing. Nowhere in the abstract is there an assertion of empathy. However, "if you won't hurt me, I won't hurt you" is in my book empathy.

If you see two species that were formerly fighting with each other and then after a catastrophic event, they get along just fine, it at minimum suggests the ability for a limited imagination even if we're going to decide that empathy is too strong a word for what's going on. Clearly, the macaques are at least able to sequester their previous behavior to permit continued survival. This suggests the following:

1. Memory of past aggression
2. Enough consciousness to realize some level of individual self-control.
3. A willingness to try a non-aggressive strategy to get desired outcomes which directly implies
4. The ability to plan and adjust. You have to be able to imagine different outcomes to pick a different strategy.

What this study directly assaults is the idea that macaques are automatons that react via instinct. They think like we do, sans language. But I mean, even Aristotle acknowledged that dogs have reason.

I agree this was a thoughtful decision.