Friday, November 04, 2005
Still more ruminations.
My son told me of an experiment that was assisted by an aquaintance involved in primate research. The study was to determine a primate's ability to comprehend physical symbols. The experiment was to give tokens to rhesus monkeys to reward them for positive behavior. Whenever the monkeys performed as requested, they would receive a token which they could then redeem for a treat.
The monkeys quickly got the hang of this abstraction from tokens, which they can't eat, into treats, which they can. - in other words, Money.
In the next phase of the experiment, they introduced tokens into the monkey's cages without first requiring a positive behavior. The monkey's response was perhaps predictable, the stronger monkeys would batter the weaker ones and take the tokens from them. Some of the female monkeys would have sex with these stronger monkeys and would receive a token good for a treat in return.
The scientists managed to introduce robbery and prostitution into the primates' social structure in a very short period of time.
...........................................
Historically, these same behaviors became evident as exercised by the tribes of Isreal while Moses was talking to a burning bush on Mt. Sinai.
The monkeys quickly got the hang of this abstraction from tokens, which they can't eat, into treats, which they can. - in other words, Money.
In the next phase of the experiment, they introduced tokens into the monkey's cages without first requiring a positive behavior. The monkey's response was perhaps predictable, the stronger monkeys would batter the weaker ones and take the tokens from them. Some of the female monkeys would have sex with these stronger monkeys and would receive a token good for a treat in return.
The scientists managed to introduce robbery and prostitution into the primates' social structure in a very short period of time.
...........................................
Historically, these same behaviors became evident as exercised by the tribes of Isreal while Moses was talking to a burning bush on Mt. Sinai.
