Summary Of The Culture Of Great Apes
The Culture of Great Apes
Bonobo’s and chimpanzee’s are very intelligent species. From using tools and herbal medicines to caring for and raising their young, there are more than a few things that set them apart from other species in the animal kingdom. Culture is a society’s shared and socially transmitted ideas, values, and perceptions, which are used to make sense of experience and generate behavior and are reflected in that behavior . Using this definition it seems that our nearest relatives, the great apes, possess culture. In human terms, culture means something not entirely different but different none the less to me. I would argue that most humans interpret culture as something entirely different. Culture could be described most simply as art and various improvements that are not necessary but more pleasing aesthetically. As an example various art forms that humans have created over time and the amenities that we have invented to make our lives more comfortable, like the creation of objects that serve no survival purpose. It is in this …show more content…
sense that I would argue against the culture of primates as it has not been observed yet that they possess the ability to create objects solely for entertainment or aesthetic purposes. The definition from the book is interesting to me.
I find it interesting because the book used a definition assumedly made by an anthropologist or paleontologist which clearly helps to further or support their cause. As an example, the observance of reconciliation in primates, there is now evidence for reconciliation in more than twenty five different primate species…. The book goes on to elaborate that the definition of reconciliation used in animal research is a friendly reunion between two former opponents not long after a conflict . So this begs the question, why is there a different definition in the animal kingdom for something that was once thought to be uniquely human? I can only conclude that when you are looking for something it may cause a biased or tainted approach to understanding the world around us, which would lead to a more inclusive definition to further serve a point being
made. Culture is not the basis of this paper; however, great apes culture cannot be discussed without defining culture. I find it very interesting that not every great ape population share the same techniques and tools for survival. I also would note the fact that they actually plan ahead, the use of tools and weapons for future excursions or trips. I do however argue that until they create something in the form of art or for entertainment value, such as a toy or drawing or statue they do not truly possess culture. Every example of culture I have been presented with serve a unique purpose in the survival of the given species. So as I stated before I feel that until the primates are observed creating objects not necessary for or related to their survival, I would not argue that they do indeed have culture.
Works Cited
Haviland, W. A., Prins, H. E., Walrath, D., & McBride, B. (2013). The Essence of Anthropology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Bonobo’s and chimpanzee’s are very intelligent species. From using tools and herbal medicines to caring for and raising their young, there are more than a few things that set them apart from other species in the animal kingdom. Culture is a society’s shared and socially transmitted ideas, values, and perceptions, which are used to make sense of experience and generate behavior and are reflected in that behavior . Using this definition it seems that our nearest relatives, the great apes, possess culture. In human terms, culture means something not entirely different but different none the less to me. I would argue that most humans interpret culture as something entirely different. Culture could be described most simply as art and various improvements that are not necessary but more pleasing aesthetically. As an example various art forms that humans have created over time and the amenities that we have invented to make our lives more comfortable, like the creation of objects that serve no survival purpose. It is in this …show more content…
sense that I would argue against the culture of primates as it has not been observed yet that they possess the ability to create objects solely for entertainment or aesthetic purposes. The definition from the book is interesting to me.
I find it interesting because the book used a definition assumedly made by an anthropologist or paleontologist which clearly helps to further or support their cause. As an example, the observance of reconciliation in primates, there is now evidence for reconciliation in more than twenty five different primate species…. The book goes on to elaborate that the definition of reconciliation used in animal research is a friendly reunion between two former opponents not long after a conflict . So this begs the question, why is there a different definition in the animal kingdom for something that was once thought to be uniquely human? I can only conclude that when you are looking for something it may cause a biased or tainted approach to understanding the world around us, which would lead to a more inclusive definition to further serve a point being
made. Culture is not the basis of this paper; however, great apes culture cannot be discussed without defining culture. I find it very interesting that not every great ape population share the same techniques and tools for survival. I also would note the fact that they actually plan ahead, the use of tools and weapons for future excursions or trips. I do however argue that until they create something in the form of art or for entertainment value, such as a toy or drawing or statue they do not truly possess culture. Every example of culture I have been presented with serve a unique purpose in the survival of the given species. So as I stated before I feel that until the primates are observed creating objects not necessary for or related to their survival, I would not argue that they do indeed have culture.
Works Cited
Haviland, W. A., Prins, H. E., Walrath, D., & McBride, B. (2013). The Essence of Anthropology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.