CH 9: Abstraction is for the Birds
The next time you hear someone spout how they are unable to do math, that they lack the "gene", remind them that mathematical thoughts are ingrained in all humans, in fact, in all animals. Still, it took humanity quite a bit of time to get some math problems worked out, the Sumerians invented numbers in 8000 BC and the Greeks made mathematics a centerpiece of their civilization in 600 BC. Today of course, mathematics has been harnessed to an unparalleled level, as is readily evident by our modern society. While it is true that not everyone walking around are doing long division or triple integral problems in their heads, we are indeed a very spatially oriented species. This means we are all constantly automatically calculating distances, comparing values and doing a great deal of applied math as it relates to our three dimensional surroundings.
We are also continuously discovering new ways animals are able to use their own forms of math to survive and adapt to their surroundings. Before we consider an example, let's begin with some perspective. The likely silver medalist for intelligence on this planet of ours, the chimpanzees, can through intense training, attain the skills of….drum roll please....a human two- year-old. So without any surprise, as far as we know of the animal kingdom to date, no animal is able to abstract and create symbolic language for mathematics anywhere near a human level.
Nevertheless, we are constantly learning of how animals are able to adapt to their surroundings through the use of mathematical principles. Consider the crow’s logical problem solving ability. In an experiment, a container of water is placed in the crow’s environment. The level of the water is intentionally made too low for the crow to access for a drink. What is amazing is the crows have repeatedly demonstrated an ability to use rocks that were placed in their environment to forcibly raise the water level, thus giving them access to a drink.
Schools of fish and birds who migrate great distances are actually using the positioning of stars in part to show them the way, and while they are not using conventional math as we might know it, there are indeed mathematical principles that are hard at work.
Get at the cartoonist Dave Blazek for more information on Calculus-trained dogs.
A Stingray probably doing Algebra