4 ms·

Seems like they're reading a lot into why the Octopus is punching those fish that are just hanging around them.

• helpfulContrib 2y ago
  [dead]
• krunck 2y ago
  They're just flexin' for the cameras.
• mannykannot 2y ago
  I agree, and one thing that makes me skeptical is that for it to be effective, the fish being punched would presumably have to understand that the octopus wants it to act in a certain way - i.e., the hypothesis seems to imply that the fish has a theory of mind with respect to the octopus. Similarly, it seems to imply that the octopus has a theory of mind about the fish - it believes that the fish will understand why the octopus is punching it. I'm not saying that this is impossible, but it is a very big claim. Furthermore, it is not clear from the video that the punching has the outcome implied by this hypothesis. It seems at least as plausible, at least from the video alone, that the octopus is just keeping the fish away from stealing an anticipated meal.
  • diego_sandoval 2y ago
    Theory of mind is not necessary for the fish. I think conditioning should be enough, and conditioning works on pigeons.
    • mannykannot 2y ago
      Fair point. On looking at it again, I think the reporter and/or editor have introduced unnecessarily teleological language. The researchers themselves describe the octopus behavior as though it is a matter of herding the fish - presumably, I suppose, to where it feels there are more prey to be found.
  • bbqfog 2y ago
    Could it not be like dogs herding sheep?