Woo so interesting. An ape showing empathy to a birdie
Empathy, the ability to understand and perceive the emotions of others is another trait that assumes theory of mind, and he argues that a wide range of animals from dogs and cats to chimpanzees and bonobos (cousin of the chimp) possess this trait. Waal describes a female bonobo's empathetic attempts to assist a stunned bird to fly again. She spread its wings with her fingers and tossed the bird into the air. When the bird fell to the ground, she sat with it until it recovered and could fly on its own. This compassion for a different species is not as remarkable as the fact that the bonobo tailored her efforts to fit what she had observed of birds, that they fly and that they spread their wings to do so. The bonobo demonstrates a high level of intelligence in realizing the plight of the "other," especially because it is unlike her.Because bonobos possess empathy; they are aware of an animal's pain, which establishes that they are also aware of cruelty. Chimps posses this theory of mind as well. De Waal describes a game that a group of captive chimpanzees played in which they lured chickens to them with bread and then poked them with sharp wire for fun. The chimpanzees utilized thier physical and intellectual power over the weaker, less intelligent chickens to inflict pain upon them. The chicken's pain amused the chimps, illustrating the chimps' capacity for cruelty. Chimps also attack others in pairs, one holding the victim down and the other beating the helpless captive. In making their victim immobile in order to inflict more pain upon them, chimps exhibit a premeditated agenda to do harm. The infliction of pain releases endorphins in the chimps, rewarding them for their cruelty. In these ways, both chimps and bonobos exhibit traits that suggest a theory of mind, and because chimps, bonobos and humans are closely linked, this implies that human beings are born with the potential to enjoy the suffering of others.
Chimpanzees, who are active hunters, are more likely to use violence to resolve disputes. Bonobos, on the other hand, will eat meat opportunistically and are known for their use of sex to pacify members of the community.(4) Although it is controversial to ascribe such traditionally human traits to animals, it makes sense to observe chimp and bonobo society, as they are our closest living relatives . Assuming theory of mind, the correlation between hunting and cruelty in animals is only one theory to explain the origins of cruelty. However, considering that human being who adopt a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle often do so as an opposition to cruelty, what does that say about the morality of eating meat? When we know the pain meat eating, fur-wearing and animal fighting cause, is it cruel to continue to participate in these activities? By normalizing meat-eating, American culture assumes that humans will participate in this passive cruelty towards animals unless they take a stand against societal norms. Cruelty is a trait that evolved as a by-product of predation, but we can choose to indulge in it as much as we see fit. Unless there is a decreased empathy response in any given person, participation in cruelty is the choice of the individual.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home