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Re: Culture as learned behavior
Matthew Hill (mhill@WATARTS.UWATERLOO.CA)
Wed, 2 Feb 1994 09:02:02 -0500
On Tue, 1 Feb 1994, A. Scott Catey wrote:
>
> It is much simpler if we think of Homo sapiens as the only animal that
> has been able to change its niche. That is what separates us from the
> other members of the animal kingdom. If we remember this, it is very
> simple to distinguish between humans and other critters, and it
> eliminates the rather boring conundrum of whether Janette's dog is
> enculturated.
>
I have some trouble with the concept of 'change its niche'
-Do you mean that only humans alter their environment significantly?
Check out the data on elephants and beavers
-do you mean shift from one niche to another?
Maybe you don't have urban raccons in your area.
Niches being identified after the fact it is perhaps possible to
identify a niche of niche-changing. I wonder how useful it would be.
Matthew Hill (MHILL@WATARTS.UWATERLOO.CA)
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