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Wow, interesting! That reminds me of something I vaguely remember reading, that cows get some essential nutrients from accidentally eating insects and soil on g

Wow, interesting! That reminds me of something I vaguely remember reading, that cows get some essential nutrients from accidentally eating insects and soil on grass. Yet another important aspect insects play in ecosystems.

hutzlibu 6y ago
If the nutrients are essential to them, I guess you could argue that their grass-insect eating customs are not a accident.
- wizzwizz4 6y ago
  Depends whether you're ascribing intentionality to the cow, or to evolution. I'd go with the cow, because evolution barely has goals, let alone thoughts.
  - hutzlibu 6y ago
    No, evolution just rewards, what works. The cow certainly won't think about eating insects. It just eats gras. (and I doubt it has a concept of "gras")
    - wizzwizz4 6y ago
      The cow probably does have a concept of grass. But I do think it probably isn't intentionally eating the insects, and therefore I'd call it “accidental”.
      - hutzlibu 6y ago
        Well, concept in the meaning of: the mostly green things on the ground with that certain smell. And sure they certainly know the different types of gras and go for the ones they like. And they likely like the types that are best for them overal, because the cows that did go for the wrong types did not prosper so much in history. Instinctal pattern matching. But that probably includes the insects in the grass. So I meant no concept of grass in the meaning of: Photosynthesis based plants of that family. Concept of smell and taste of a certain patch of grass (including the insects) - certainly.
        wizzwizz4 6y ago
        > So I meant no concept of grass in the meaning of: Photosynthesis based plants of that family. Oh, certainly not. But, then, neither did humans until the last few centuries.
        hutzlibu 6y ago
        But humans did probably saw the connection between sun and growth and "plant" in general, while the cow just sees the grass. This is what I meant with concept. A cow won't divide between vegan and meat. It just eats what it likes. Apparently grass with insects. Because normal grass has insects with it.

hutzlibu 6y ago

If the nutrients are essential to them, I guess you could argue that their grass-insect eating customs are not a accident.

wizzwizz4 6y ago
Depends whether you're ascribing intentionality to the cow, or to evolution. I'd go with the cow, because evolution barely has goals, let alone thoughts.
- hutzlibu 6y ago
  No, evolution just rewards, what works. The cow certainly won't think about eating insects. It just eats gras. (and I doubt it has a concept of "gras")
  - wizzwizz4 6y ago
    The cow probably does have a concept of grass. But I do think it probably isn't intentionally eating the insects, and therefore I'd call it “accidental”.
    - hutzlibu 6y ago
      Well, concept in the meaning of: the mostly green things on the ground with that certain smell. And sure they certainly know the different types of gras and go for the ones they like. And they likely like the types that are best for them overal, because the cows that did go for the wrong types did not prosper so much in history. Instinctal pattern matching. But that probably includes the insects in the grass. So I meant no concept of grass in the meaning of: Photosynthesis based plants of that family. Concept of smell and taste of a certain patch of grass (including the insects) - certainly.
      - wizzwizz4 6y ago
        > So I meant no concept of grass in the meaning of: Photosynthesis based plants of that family. Oh, certainly not. But, then, neither did humans until the last few centuries.
        hutzlibu 6y ago
        But humans did probably saw the connection between sun and growth and "plant" in general, while the cow just sees the grass. This is what I meant with concept. A cow won't divide between vegan and meat. It just eats what it likes. Apparently grass with insects. Because normal grass has insects with it.