Humans have intricate social structures, which have allowed large populations to exist without constant warfare. Reciprocal altruism may have lead to cooperation amongst non-family members helping to create large societies were one can depend on another. Animals too create social bonds to form societies similar to that of humans. Wade explains similarities found in humans sociality and animals, but he states “…all human societies support institutions not found in the chimp repertoire. These include property rights…” (Wade, 141). Most animals defend their territorial rights the same way humans protect their homes and property.
W. H. Burt published an article in the Journal of Mammalogy showing that property ownership is a trait not only found in humans but also animals. “In fact, it may be held that the recognition of territorial rights, one of the most significant attributes of civilization, was not evolved by man, but has ever been an inherent factor in the life history of all animals” (Burt, 346). Many observations show that animals, reptiles and even invertebrates posses a type of territorial behavior that is common to humans. Observations of beavers that live in close proximity to each other still show signs of ownership; “…it is more than probable that each family knew its own, and always entered at their own door without having any further connection with their neighbors…” (Burt, 347-348)
Dogs are a good example of animals that show property rights. Humans protect their homes from unwanted intruders just as dogs would do. Primates show strong signs of property rights; any intruder entering a group or individuals land is subject violent retaliation. All primates possess ownership traits. Civilized societies and the humans within them still possess the same underlying behaviors apparent in most animal groups. Environmental pressures and sendentism redefined human evolution, spurring sociality to new levels different from all other beings. Yet social structures can be seen in many species and humans were not the first creatures to create social institutions.
References
Wade, Nicholas. Before The Dawn. New York: The Penguin Press, 2006.
Burt, Henry, “Territoriality and Home Range Concepts as Applied to Mammals,” Journal of Mammalogy Vol. 24, No. 3. (Aug., 1943) [346-352]. http://www.seaturtle.org/PDF/Burt_1943_JMammal.pdf (accessed September 10, 2009)
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I like challenge of Wade’s quote with the quote from Burt. People believe humans are so different from animals because humans are civilized and show property ownership. Your comparison of a dog and human was a perfect example of protecting territory and how they However, humans have evolved and social are similar. Humans were definitely not the first creatures to create social institutions. interaction is very different and more efficient when compared to another animal such as a chimp. There are similarities with the way chimps and humans defend property rights.
ReplyDeleteI think there is a difference between property ownership and territorialism. When I think of property ownership, I think of physical objects, such as a home, tools, etc. However, territorialism would be for a place. Therefore, animals protect their territory, not any physical objects.
ReplyDeleteThere can be situations where animals do portray property ownership. An example of ownership that chimps display is that of the female chimps as property. They protect their territory because the female chimps are living there. In this way I would agree that humans have shown a similar behavior of property ownership to animals.
i would say that animals are more prone to protect there own than a human. yes humans do go out of there way to protect their property and their family but i think that animals would go the extra mile to keep what's theirs. i think that is because animals can have a one track mind where as humans can listen to reason.
ReplyDeleteThis topic really intrigued me. I did not fully agree with Wade when I read that quote and I enjoyed that you found another scholar to use for comparison. I immediately thought of dogs when thinking of property rights, as Mini said above, property rights and territory might be different, but I think they can be compared and used to explain the same thing. I just think of my dog, he considers, or at least I think he considers, certain things his, like my bed. When I try to get in, he snarls, growls and lunges! He also, like most dogs, goes out of his way to protect our family, his "property", by barking at people he feels are threatening, or even barking at one of us if we are yelling at each other. All in all, I really enjoyed your post!
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