According to the latest observations by Swedish scientists, chimpanzees apparently plan for the future!
The scientists base these observations on chimpanzees collecting and storing stones. According to them: By “learning lessons” from their past experiences, chimpanzees will use these stones to defend themselves if something happens to them.
Scientists interpret this as meaning that “some animals, just like humans, have the ability to plan for the future.”
As elections approach, old records are reopened and people try to bring past actions to light. Almost every politician, new and old alike, accuses the others of things they did in the past. As accusations fly, we too act as if we are surprised, saying things like, “Wow, so that’s what they did,” and even comment on it, saying things like, “I already knew there were other schemes at work behind all this...”
In short, while serious efforts to “learn lessons” from the past continue unabated in the political arena, it seems to me that we are forgetting what really matters... At this point, it would be useful to clarify what really matters by asking a question: Is it us who need to learn a lesson, or the politicians?
Exposing management failures, conflicts of interest, and irregularities is undoubtedly very effective and helpful for clean politics; but the very same politicians are the ones responsible for these irregularities.
Of course, we understand the message politicians are trying to convey: society will use its “right to vote,” take substantiated allegations into account, and remove the people in question from office! But aren’t those same politicians the ones who really need to learn a lesson? Surely, there is no need to think too hard about the answer!
(I can’t help adding a small note: I used the phrase “substantiated allegations” in particular, because, unfortunately, the accusations made in the political arena are not based on proof.)
Anyway, let’s get back to our chimpanzee!
Our dear chimpanzee learns from the past, plans for the future, and spends its day preparing for what lies ahead. It prepares today for the possibility of encountering a problem one day in the future. It makes the stones it gathers from around it suitable for easier use in the future, then stores them.
In other words, chimpanzees adapt “politics, the art of solving problems,” in their own way (which I call “Chimpanzee Politics”) and use this strategy. Scientists comment on this situation by saying: “just like humans...”
I wonder if we plan for the future this well?
Yes, as I mentioned above, they teach us the past very well; there is even serious competition in this regard. We learn lessons, too!
But what about the future?
Is there the same competition, the same climate of rivalry in the “politics developed” to shape our future?
Hope to see you on Tuesday...
Pay attention to your surroundings, keep them clean, and be considerate in traffic!