• unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de
    0·
    3 months ago

    Ants definitely arent complex enough to have empathy but still do things “for the group”. Mice are much smarter, but this behaviour doesnt necessarily require empathy just the understanding that individual survival chance goes up when you cooperate. Definitely cute tho. :)

    • Slowy@lemmy.world
      1·
      3 months ago

      Rats, not mice, the former being quite a bit smarter :) But is there any reason to assume our human empathy comes from a different base urge than theirs? If so, why can’t both situations share the term empathy?

      • TheDoozer@lemmy.world
        1·
        3 months ago

        Seriously. Ants are one of the few animals that pass the mirror test. It’s not a huge leap to believe that a species that can recognize itself, is part of a large codependent social group, and is intent on remaining in that social group (as evidenced by the mirror test), would naturally be inclined toward empathy for its fellow ants.