Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id UAA02927 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 28 May 2002 20:48:58 +0100 X-Originating-IP: [67.243.218.17] From: "Grant Callaghan" <grantc4@hotmail.com> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Report: chimps used simple tools 5 million years ago Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 12:42:54 -0700 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: <LAW2-F106nl6gvdJ4ab0000d839@hotmail.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 28 May 2002 19:42:55.0000 (UTC) FILETIME=[DC834980:01C2067F] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
: Tue, 28 May 2002 11:47:24 -0400
>
>
>On Tuesday, May 28, 2002, at 10:39 , Bill Spight wrote:
>
>>When the youngster grabbed the treasure, the
>>adult pulled him out and took it away. ;-)
>
>Ha! That is the way I clean under the beds...!
>
>There are some very interesting studies of octopi showing them
>to be ready to use available (and available is the operating
>term here) items for useful purposes.
>
>I don't, however, think we're far at all from spider-webs, with
>this rudimentary tool use.
>
>- Wade
>
Nor ants, who even indulge in farming and construction. People want to
claim that what a beaver does with logs and mud and ponds is all instinct,
but no two areas are exactly the same and the trees they choose and the way
they use them to construct their houses and dams requires a lot of choices
to be made. I think some of it has to be learned behavior. I suspect we
give animals too little credit for adapting to their enviornment in ways
that could be described as memetic or tool using. Where humans come out way
ahead is the concept that anything and everything in the environment can be
used as a tool. Animal concepts are much more limited in my estimation.
Grant
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