Economics Questions

Re: Division of labor with animals?

Laotzu del Zinn — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 20:43:55 GMT

This and other studies showing that chimps can decieve, etc, at least shows that an animal can have a concept of the future and of risk/reward analysis. But I would say it is a matter of degree where you draw the line on a true "division of labor."

There is also the eusocial insects and the man o war;

While the Portuguese Man o' War resembles a jellyfish, it is in fact a siphonophore – a colony of four kinds of minute, highly modified individuals, which are specialized polyps and medusoids.^[1] Each such zooid in these pelagic colonial hydroids or hydrozoans has a high degree of specialization and, although structurally similar to other solitary animals, are all attached to each other and physiologically integrated rather than living independently. Such zooids are specialized to such an extent that they lack the structures associated with other functions and are therefore dependent for survival on the others to do what the particular zooid cannot do by itself.

Complex divisions of labor, as we talk about in human societies generally rely upon agriculture and surplus, whereas I'm not sure there are any animals other than us that produce more than what we need to survive.

Re: Division of labor with animals?

Azure — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 20:14:35 GMT

This is an example of what biologists call mutualism. Is division of labor an example of mutualism between human beings?

Re: Division of labor with animals?

Nitroadict — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 20:08:01 GMT

I would lean towards no, as I can't think of any animals that are able to conceive of the concept "labour". What we interpret as "labour" may just be non-conscious instinct for them.

Division of labor with animals?

Libertyandlife — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:21:08 GMT

Is there any examples of division of labor with animals? Does this count?:

http://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/coyotes-badgers-find-food1.htm

I mean coyotes and badgers hunt the same food, so they should be rivals, but instead they work together for something in return (food). They both fulfill seperate roles for mutual benefit.