These two pictures depict how collective action is programmed among living beings. It comes out in open during various occasions. In these pictures the basic need to fight hunger has brought them together. There are four monkeys, one in the room throwing out food to the monkey in balcony. The monkey on balcony throws the food on the ground and keeps an eye on anyone coming. The other two monkeys are eating and collecting food from ground for eating it after-wards and sharing with other two monkeys. Isn’t a simplest example of average collective benefit > individual benefit.
7 comments:
How do they ensure that the last one to enter the room is not left without a guard watching out for danger? how do they ensure that the last one to eat has enough left for him to eat? Also, does the monkey who goes in first impartially throw out food or does he save some for himself?
Does he eat and throw out food at the same time? If so, what kind of food does he eat and what does he throw out? What if one from the group chooses to free ride?
Do they belong to the same level of social hierarchy in the society?
A good example. I suppose this example also signifies that the struggle for existence brings together one and all. This struggle for existence brought together the amoeba so that they could survive. Slowly evolution took place. Now, even the most complex of beings exhibit this tendency to work together in groups so that everyone can survive.
Uphaar--We cant say how they deal with these as we cant understand their institutions and norms, but what discovery channel, national geographic channel and general experience says that they live and move together in various groups.It is observed by scientists that they have to be loyal and trustworthy to their groups otherwise severe punishments like debarring from group is administered.
It is amazing to see collective action taking place among animals. And in this case it is their survival which has brought them together. Self-interest is one of the main motivating factors in a collective action. This doesn't necessarily mean they always cooperative among themselves. During mating season the males fight to prove them superior. Again the self-interest comes into picture.
@ritesh
i differ from your point that they are doing it for survival.. any evidence?
secondly if you can kindly site any example where its purely self less cooperation?
Picture seems to be quite attractive. Here Mr. Hari, you have raised the issue of collective action among living being.
But i want to say that we have spent more than 6 months in campus and every time when i rather we see these monkeys, they are found in groups only. so what special about collective action??? Also there are various examples of living being being together most of the time. For example birds prefer to fly in group, sheep and goats grazing in field only in herds.
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