4 ms·
I think on a higher level, the ability to fast might be the most important trait here (combined with the capability to innovate). At least, Robinson Crusoe type
by kriro 4y ago
I think on a higher level, the ability to fast might be the most important trait here (combined with the capability to innovate). At least, Robinson Crusoe type economics has me believe that one of the important things for a civilization to advance is the ability to save and invest. So (simplified) the human can catch some fish, take some time off from the day-to-day grind of catching fish and try to build some device to catch even more fish (so basically investing the initial fish). With the ability to fast, this process can be sort of forced more (you can still gamble on building a better net even if you don't catch enough fish in the first place). Rinse and repeat in other areas, and slowly "wealth" is built up. The longer you can go "save" without being forced to do something else, the more you can advance, and that's exponential gains.
I'd be very curious if there are any studies on time sensibility across species. Obviously, it varies even among humans (cue children with candy experiment here). My hypothesis would be that the ability to delay satisfaction is quite vital for the development of a species. On a completely tangential note, I'd also be curious how it relates to "procrastination". Anecdotally, I fell like people who need everything "right now" struggle a lot less with procrastination.
Edit: spelling
- t344344 4y agoSquirrels, ants and bees can build wealth as well. Humans can build complex societies and use weapons in organized way.
- chii 4y ago> Squirrels, ants and bees can build wealth as well. investing isn't just storing "wealth" (ala, a storage of foods). Investing is using the time that such wealth affords you to invent new tools, to make more efficient methods/machines for making wealth! Animals are, currently, missing this part.
- HPsquared 4y agoAnimals do learn techniques and pass knowledge to their offspring. The only thing is, they don't make tools.
- kaba0 4y agoThey do make tools (corvids, octopuses, apes). Learning and passing knowledge is much rarer, I believe, and I can’t really think of any non-mammal example.
- HPsquared 4y agoDon't they watch their parents hunting and things like that?
- kaba0 4y agoMammals? Some do. Most other animal I can think of right now? Nope, a snake just.. does its “pre-programmed” thing, the same way a spider creates its web. Jellyfish are barely alive, fish are also not particularly intelligent. People really did believe even just a few hundred years ago that animals were just “animatronics”, and let’s be honest, plenty of animals don’t disprove it too well.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]