Take a quick look at Chapter 7 in Our Origins and read the section Acquiring Res

Question

Take a quick look at Chapter 7 in Our Origins and read the section Acquiring Resources and Transmitting Knowledge: Got Culture? Given the variation seen in the specific behaviors of chimpanzees, orangutans, and capuchin monkeys is it fair to say that our close relatives possess culture? Why or why not? What about the rest of the animal kingdom-do any other animals have culture?

3 Acquiring Resources and Transmitting Knowledge: Got Culture? Primates andhumans acquire food in vastly different ways. While primates can acquire food using only their bodies, humans depend on technology-material culture-to acquire food. But this distinction does not mean that primates have no materialculture In the 1960s, Jane Goodall became the first to question that assumption when he observed adult chimps poking twigs into a termite hill, withdraw- ing them, and eating the termites that clung to the twigs (Figure 7.6). Goodall realized that one fundamental assumption about what it means to be human-namely, that material culture (and culture in general) is exclusive to humanbeings-seemed incorrect. Other scientists then real- ized that living chimpanzees' tool use may be the best model for under- standing our prehuman ancestors'earliest cultures (amongthe topics of chapter 10). Basedon Goodall's research and a great deal ofwork since, anthropol- ogists have identified three central features about chimpanzees'tooluse. First,chimpanzees are extraordinarily intelligent and have the comple:x cognitive skills necessary forat least some kinds ofbehaviors that require learning and the ability to understand complex symbolization. The evi- dence for this ability is impressive, and it is growing. For example, chim- panzees are able to accomplish a numberof complex behaviors forwhich visual acumen and ability to think abstractly are essential elements. In oratory or otherwise controlled settings, humans have taught young mpanzees to crack open nuts with stones. In turn, these chimpanzees lab

Explanation / Answer

Given the variation seen in the specific behaviors of chimpanzees, orangutans, and capuchin monkeys is it fair to say that our close relatives possess culture? Why or why not?

Yes, it would be correct to say that chimpanzees, orangutans and capuchin monkeys possess culture. After the research conducted by Jane Goodall, it had come to be known that even in conditions where there was no monitoring or in the natural settings, chimpanzee mothers would teach their children to use tools and about consumption of food and acquiring food. Also, chimpanzees do have material culture, where they would use different tools for acquiring food and for their survival. This implies that they have material culture as well as a culture where parents would teach the children about survival.

What about the rest of the animal kingdom-do any other animals have culture?

Yes, the other primates have culture. Not only primates, but also raptors have been known to have culture. They have the prey culture, where the raptors are able to pick the primates.

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