Animal cooperation (Ch. 9)
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:48 am
Haidt quotes the very interesting observation from a chimpanzee expert that "It is inconceivable that you would ever see two chimpanzees carrying a log together."
The expert then points out that even when monkeys are hunting together, they aren't really cooperating -- they don't communicate and have to fight for the spoils after, etc.
I'm no animal expert, but are there really no examples of real cooperation (based on these characteristics)? I could have sworn I've seen some on the Discovery channel. I wonder if this guy he's quoting is too eager to draw a line between humans and other animals.
The expert then points out that even when monkeys are hunting together, they aren't really cooperating -- they don't communicate and have to fight for the spoils after, etc.
I'm no animal expert, but are there really no examples of real cooperation (based on these characteristics)? I could have sworn I've seen some on the Discovery channel. I wonder if this guy he's quoting is too eager to draw a line between humans and other animals.