Summary on Do Animals Have Culture - Essay Example

work] Do Animals Have Culture Laland & Hoppitt (2003) have written on "Do Animals Have Culture" and said that "there is no reason to assume that cumulative culture depends critically on teaching, imitation, language, or perspective-taking." In other words, they were saying that animals, too, have their own culture but that such culture may not be transmitted in the same way that culture for human beings are.The material is of particular interest to me because of my growing interest with animals.

They intrigue me no end and learning about their characteristics so distinct from man makes me wonder about them. I love dogs, for example. I found that they are very loyal and loving, which characteristics are far beyond human quality. No matter how much mistreatment a dog receives from his master, the dog does not mind so much and still shows his loyalty. I managed a boarding house before and the owner left without picking up his dog. The dog, which I didn't pay attention much to - except to expect it to guard my house - grew up without as much food from me.

Home from my classes each night, I would find him there at the gate faithfully waiting for me to come home, no matter how late it was. It was as though his life was not complete without me going home. This dog has taught me compassion for others and kind regard for those I did not expect anything from. I left my home for three days and when I came home finally, I was surprised not to find him. Calling and calling out his name, I got alarmed and felt that something may have happened. In a corner among the grasses, I found him gasping for his last breathe.

It was like he had answered to his name when I called as he wagged his tail a little. Finally, he died. For quite a while, I mourned as though a part of me died, too. I do not think I would have an experience as profound as I had with this dog. His world is different and yet we were able to strike up a master-slave relationship. I was master and he was the slave in the way I had treated him. The quality of character he had displayed was admirable, yet the way I had behaved was shameful. This dog was only a puppy when I found him.

How could he have learned what quality of character he had displayed In the compound where there were other dogs, I did not notice him going with a pack. Is respect for the master - cruel or not - learned How did he know how to do things the way he did If this is culture according to how Laland & Hoppitt (2003) defined it, I have no way of knowing.Another one of my experiences is negative and it deals with cockroaches. In the boarding room where I stayed, I happened to snap on one that I was not able to finally crush.

It ran faster than I could reach for it. At that time, the days were rainy and many of them could be visible now and then, as they came out from soaked woodpile near our room. I had forgotten all about the experience when after a week as I lay in bed, some cockroaches bit me on my hands and flew fast away. Another two or three followed and flew fast away. I followed their direction and there, a host of them clang on to the screen from above our beds. They seemed to stare at me and wriggled their antennae in delight.

This was happening to me but not to my room mate.What do they have that they are able to communicate with each other Do they have group think Do they have group consciousness so that when one gets hurt, they are able to revenge These things made me think about the animal kingdom which is distinct from man's, yet have similar ways of doing things. Some call it culture.ReferenceLaland, K. N. & Hoppitt, W. Do Animals Have Culture Evolutionary Anthropology. 2003, Vol. 12; Part 3, pp 150-159. ISSN 1060-1538.

USA: Wiley-Liss