Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id IAA05909 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Mon, 28 Feb 2000 08:13:56 GMT Message-ID: <B0000273544@htcompmail.htcomp.net> Subject: Re: Monkeys stone herdsman in Kenya Date: Sat, 26 Feb 00 09:21:16 -0000 x-mailer: Claris Emailer 2.0v2, June 6, 1997 From: "Mark M. Mills" <mmills@htcomp.net> To: "Memetics List" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Joe,
>>> Who would
>>>assert, for instance, that a band of baboons throwing rocks at
>>>another band of baboons trying to drink water at their watering
>>>hole comprised culture?
>>
>> Why not?
>>
>Next you'll tell me that an otter swimming on its back with a rock
>on its belly with which it cracks clams, or a seagull dropping
>oysters on coastal rocks and then eating the meat exposed by the
>breakage are culture.
If someone wanted to spend time proving regional variations in otter clam
cracking practices represent a body of imitative practices passed down
from the otter herd (?) to younger memebers, I would probably laugh. I
don't think it would be a wise investment of time, but there is nothing
wrong with the hypothesis.
I'm puzzled by your assurance that group rock throwing by non-human
primates is the cultural equivalent of an otter cracking a clam on its
belly. As Lloyd Robertson pointed out, the concept of 'normal behavior'
comes into play and you seem to find no need for reviews of the norm.
I suspect your assurance reflects your conviction that self-awareness
must be achieved before behaviors express culture.
Mark
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