The theory of animal culture
Like us animals have their own culture, they have their own way of communicating, behaviour and other traits that make it.
The only major difference between cultures is our ability to record history and culture which we can use to give our culture a sense of depth.
But a culture does not have to be hundreds of years old, it can be relatively new or old and always changing.
Upon reflection, this reaffirms the idea that other living things need to be valued and respected as much as humans because from a unbiased specist view we are the same culturally speaking.
Thoughts?
The only major difference between cultures is our ability to record history and culture which we can use to give our culture a sense of depth.
But a culture does not have to be hundreds of years old, it can be relatively new or old and always changing.
Upon reflection, this reaffirms the idea that other living things need to be valued and respected as much as humans because from a unbiased specist view we are the same culturally speaking.
Thoughts?
Comments (4)
You should look into some work on post-humanism...start with the book Straw Dogs for an interesting philosophical overview, and then consider some more scientific accounts of the fascinating powers of animals.
Ill check it out, but I am REALLY not a book person.
My understanding of the meaning of the word is that culture is that which is passed down through generations. Animals have instincts and behaviors. They don't pass on what they learn down through generations the way humans do. By this definition animals do not have culture. Of course we (or natural selection) can breed certain behaviors, but that's not the same thing.
I looked up the dictionary definition. "the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively."
The very definition references humans. Animals do not have culture.