Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id GAA11504 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Wed, 1 Mar 2000 06:11:11 GMT Subject: Re: Fwd: Baboons Suggest Language Origins Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 01:09:44 -0500 x-sender: wsmith1@camail2.harvard.edu x-mailer: Claris Emailer 2.0v3, Claritas Est Veritas From: "Wade T.Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu> To: "Memetics Discussion List" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Message-ID: <20000301060916.AAA20331@camailp.harvard.edu@[204.96.32.203]> Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Lawrence H. de Bivort made this comment not too long ago --
>No other interpretations possible? For example, might it not be the case
>that mother baboons coming to the rescue of their infants remain silent to
>avoid warning a potential aggressor of their approach?
Within the context of that article, no, I think there are few other
interpretations. A mother first and foremost wants to know the location
of her child. I highly doubt any strategic complexes fill her head at
moments when her baby is in pain and crying besides the urge to get to
it. And, your scenario assumes that remaining silent means they
understand other creatures are listening- which was the main point of
that research-
>The baboons, says Rendall, lack what psychologists call the "theory of
>mind," an understanding that others have minds with thoughts, knowledge and
>perceptions different from their own.
- so in order to have strategies, they would need this awareness. The
research points to them not having it.
- Wade
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