The Cultured Ape

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The Cultured Ape

Question 1

High culture can be defined as a set of cultural products that are held in high regard. This type of culture is mainly practiced by the elite section of the society. On the other hand, low culture represents that of the less educated and more popular culture that is practiced by a larger section of the community (Naish). From the resources, it has been clear that chimpanzees have a culture that is similar to humans because they have been observed to use tools for communication as well as making their work easier. Their behaviors are also seen to be co-coordinating with one another in a way that makes them live as a community.

Question 2

Tool making is a manifestation of culture because it represents a unique way in which chimpanzees make their work easier within their environment. For instance, on the Western coast of Africa, there exists a wide variety of edible nuts. Therefore, chimpanzees will tend to use rocks as a means of breaking the outer shells. In addition to this, culture represents the passing on of behavior from one generation to another, which is a trait present in the species.

Question 3

Chimps have been seen to have a minimal sense of the aesthetic. This has been seen in their ability to paint as well as perform other types of activities. The sense of aesthetic has been mostly an imitation of the activities they have witnessed other humans do over time.

Question 4

From the resource, chimpanzees have been seen to have a sense of morality as well as the Machiavellian intelligence, which is a trait developed as part of their culture. They have the ability to form alliances that will benefit them both personally and socially. They also have the ability to deceive to gain something.

Question 5

Chimpanzees have the ability to display altruism. A good example is the incident of the boy that fell into a primate enclosure. The unconscious boy was carried by a gorilla up to the opening of the enclosure where a caretaker took him to get medical attention.

Question 6

Chimpanzees’ sense of the supernatural is represented through mannerisms likely imitated from human beings. Within the wild species, chimps have an inherent sense of love and compassion that is exhibited in not only amongst them but also among other species. This is an indication that they have a sense of the supernatural.

Question 7

From the videos, it is clear that the gap between human and ape culture is slowly narrowing. However, chimpanzees still have a long way to go before they can be compared to the intricately evolved human culture. Chimpanzees that have interacted with human beings have been seen to have a high potential for developing a surprisingly complex culture. This can be seen in their ability to imitate human behavior as well as look out for their interests. They have also displayed a range of emotions as a means to communicate. Such emotions include aggression, surprise, deception, as well as selflessness in both their species and that of others. Within the natural environment, chimpanzees have exhibited a culture of establishing social hierarchies, which place a leader at the top. This is an indication that there is a likelihood that chimpanzees will likely develop a more elaborate set of cultures in the future.

Work cited

Naish, Darren. “The Cultured Ape, And Attenborough on Gorillas.” Tetra pod Zoology. N.P., 2008. Web. 26 Feb. 2016.