Lec 11 Flashcards
What is Darwin’s Theory regarding human evolution?
Darwin believed humans descended from African apes as a result of gradual evolution. Chimpanzees and humans share a common ancestor.
What are the two main aspects of Darwin’s Problem?
- Physical evolution - continuity of anatomy, nervous and vascular systems. 2. Evolution of mind - continuity of mental capacities
What are the two biases in the literature regarding animal mental capacities?
- Emphasising discontinuity: to justify religious beliefs about humanity’s special status and to justify human treatment of animals (don’t want to know if animals have emotion)
- Emphasising continuity: to show Darwin is correct and to show that animals have capacity.
Why haven’t we made progress in finding about mental capacities of other primates?
Difficulties with identifying absence of mental trait: showing that a trait doesn’t exist is difficult.
What evidence did Colpaert et al. provide for animal consciousness?
Colpaert found that rats with inflamed joints preferred the analgesic water over sugar water, indicating they feel pain and are therefore conscious.
What is the principle of parsimony?
The simplest explanation; includes Lloyd Morgan’s canon and the Clever Hans phenomenon (horse looked like it was doing complex task when really it was picking up on subtle cues - example of a simpler explanation)
What evidence suggests that animals may possess intelligence beyond trial and error?
Insight demonstrated by Kohler: Apes put two sticks together and stacked boxes to reach food, showing problem-solving abilities.
What correlation exists between brain size and social behavior in primates?
There is a correlation between brain size and the size of social groups; social mammals tend to live longer.
What are examples of social intelligence in primates?
Sophisticated group living, grooming (bonding), social hierarchies, keeping track of third-party relations, and tactical deception.
What is an example of social learning in primates?
Primates smile when seeing an image of a chimpanzee smiling and can recognize when a human imitates their behavior.
What evidence supports the existence of chimpanzee culture?
Different cultures and traditions exist in different regions in Africa, such as ‘hand clapping’ found only in Kibale and Mahala, indicating social maintenance of traits.
Evidence of communication in animals?
Failed study (Richard Garner, 1890): didn’t find evidence for communication
Re-discovery of playback approach (Marler et al., 1980): vervet monkeys have alarm calls specific to different targets (e.g. noise that alerts other monkeys that there is a leopard, which signals them to climb up trees)
It is evident that apes can’t achieve vocal language, however what are some other ways they can communicate?
American Sign Language: chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans can use ASL to communcate successfully
Symbols and pointing: in chimpanzees e.g. Bonobo Kanzi (the most linguistically capable animal alive)
Do apes have self-awareness? What evidence?
Success only in great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans): many studies done with chimpanzees, where they are able to recognise themselves in the mirror and pass the mark test
Small apes CANNOT (e.g. gibbon), even when putting icing sugar on face, still couldn’t recognise.
What is pretence
E.g. Pretend play using a mud pie: Pretence involves primary representation of reality (e.g. mud) and secondary representation of pretend world (e.g. pie)
Evidence in apes: Home-reared greater apes play with dolls and play with them as if they are alive
