Do Monkeys Have a Moral Compass?

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Twitter: / stephaniesamma
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Credits:
Narrator: Stephanie Sammann
Writer: Angela Wipperman (www.angelawipperman.com)
Editor: Dylan Hennessy (www.behance.net/dylanhennessy1)
Illustrator: Elfy Chiang (www.elfylandstudios.com/)
Illustrator/Animator: Kirtan Patel (kpatart.com/illustrations)
Animator: Mike Ridolfi (www.moboxgraphics.com/)
Sound: Graham Haerther (haerther.net)
Thumbnail: Simon Buckmaster ( / forgottentowel )
Producer: Brian McManus ( / realengineering )
Imagery courtesy of Getty Images
References:
[1] (www.washington.edu/news/2011/....
[2] (www.nature.com/articles/natur...)
[3] (oxford.universitypressscholar... )
[4] (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/a... )
[5] (www.theguardian.com/science/2...)
[6] www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073...
[6.5] www.sciencedirect.com/science...
[7]
(srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/...) [8] (theconversation.com/how-monke...)
[9] (www.jstor.org/stable/4132870)
[10] (www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas...)
[11] (www.wired.com/2014/11/monkeys...)
[11.5] www.sciencedirect.com/science...
[12] (www.cell.com/cell-reports/pdf....
[13] (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29040...)
[14] (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25556....
[15] (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti....
[16] (www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas...)

[@ryanatkinson2978]

Lmao still can't get over the monkey flinging the cucumber "What the fuck is this Martha?"

[@m_tth_w9647]

Frantically trying to reach the grape.

[@fullfriction5100]

And doing let me outttt thinge

[@MrMonklad]

AYOO gimme the F***ing Grape Karen. Now now now now NOW!

[@Thor-Orion]

@@fullfriction5100 do you think Eric Andre saw this experiment?

[@DamonInferis]

@@Thor-Orion Of course he saw the experiment, he was in it! Ha!

[@RealEngineering]

We are out here asking if monkeys are evil, meanwhile we are blasting them in the eyes with air 😂

[@suicideistheanswer369]

it's not evil if it's for science

[@gioflores7989]

🤣😂

[@illzealot]

@@suicideistheanswer369 Completely untrue

[@Moneymyke357]

Fuck em

[@dumoulin11]

@@suicideistheanswer369 Science can absolutely do evil things. Look what the nazis did.

[@LucyKosaki]

The way the monkey threw back the cucumber, bashed on the table and shook the cage to demand the grape. This looks so human and relatable, haha

[@zjedinite]

Yup! Your average fast food customer getting the wrong order 🤣

[@itsalily_lei_lei]

Ok but that monkey reacting so aggressively upset by getting the worst treat was one of the funniest things I’ve seen today. Poor guy just wanted a grape.

[@Hawk7886]

Monkeys wake up each day and choose violence. Often literally.

[@Rcaneneophyte8906]

Sounds like you're actually sharing your personal experience. 🤣

[@notarmchairhistorian7779]

"I'd like to have coffee and violence please" -primates

[@ghostshrimp5006]

@@notarmchairhistorian7779 Except guerrillas, guerrillas are the embodiment of patience, unless you test there patience, then you become the embodiment of a coffin

[@Xsuprio]

@@notarmchairhistorian7779 Sorry. We're all out of violence. Primate: ............... oh. Alright then.

[@Xsuprio]

@@ghostshrimp5006 "Guerrillas".... unintended comedy gold.

[@THDAMAGINGSILVERSTAR]

“We don’t have to be the angry cucumber monkey” Something about this quote is perfect 🤣

[@ruufusdeleon1264]

And the slyest segue.

[@atrikarmakar7564]

We don't have to be angry, cucumber monkey. We don't have to be angry cucumber, monkey. We don't have to be, angry cucumber monkey.

[@paddington1670]

*does a head whip*

[@greenseedpod]

Just give the monkey smartphones to order their food.

[@4450krank]

@@paddington1670 the most legit "ah hell naa" ever 🤣

[@Narz00707]

Love how as soon as the monkey became self-aware they were like wait, what does my ass look like

[@justapassie3844]

lol XD

[@frailvoid5844]

I think morals evolved as a way to create stability and reduce conflict in groups of early proto human species. Can't make progress without cooperation and sacrifice

[@elijahsmall5873]

True

[@Mwilson8581]

Morals aren't real. They're a concept that has no hard definition and varies to wildly to be thrown around in a scientific study.

[@theinfernoburns]

This is too simple a answer to a very complex proposition. There's just way too much context lost in humanities history and the cultures that led to certain revelations at certain times. Morality is not a divine law or "universal" as we like to put, obviously the morality of humans even today is not black and white, its rather location and period specific.

[@Mwilson8581]

@@theinfernoburns you're complications are easy to reject. Revelation, culture, and morality aren't scientific. They are to ambiguous and wouldn't be part of any problem or conclusion in a scientific process.

[@theinfernoburns]

@@Mwilson8581 then why are u trying to answer scientifically lol

[@jerrysstories711]

8:59 Here I was, watching this very interesting video about primate ethics and cognition, then suddenly I was cracking up at a monkey using a mirror to inspect its own butt. Thanks for that cognitive whiplash!

[@MrBrew4321]

Made me wonder if monkeys find butts more attractive than other body parts. I.e. he was like wait, I can see me! ...WAIT am I a hotty!?

[@thediaz07]

"so that's what my A-hole looks like". "Interesting" 🤔.

[@FranFerioli]

"I check my butt in the mirror therefore I am" the philosopher said.

[@RIZFERD]

Yes they do just like humans, any species of apes, I've been petting so many monkeys since child aside many other animals what people out there called exotic The most memorable one when I was just 10 she was baby monkey native of Sumatra we named her Mony she was all alone without a mother as she died, we found her on our regular trip 2 days and 1 night with a car between Java and Sumatra so we took her to city of Padang, done our best to take care of her then few months later in the evening she fell real ill and we took her to a doctor while on the way she died in my cuddle and tried to feed her some mini baby banana she liked on the way (smallest size of banana but very sweet we often called it milky banana) and immediately buried her in the front of the garden of one of our former office buildings as it was close to the doctor. It was my very first time experience watching death in my own arms felt strange, sad and guilty at the same time but I always convinced myself she's missing her mother and wanted to be with her again, she was so cute and active but there's unsaid words in her eyes that she wanted to say that she wanted to be with her mother again. It was in 1994.

[@duatchol7710]

Funniest part of the whole vid, unironically laughed out loud at the monkey looking through both legs lmfaooooo

[@SabinStargem]

The cucumber and grape monkey experiment should be expanded, to ask if they will trade resources. Give the grape monkey a pair, and the cucumber a whole veggie. See if they swap or split the stuff.

[@CordeliaWagner]

Who cares what these stinky critters will do?

[@civil_villain]

@@CordeliaWagner We're just trying to find out if it's morally okay to use them as a food source for humans. If you don't want to eat monkey, you don't need to contribute to the conversation.

[@ozymandiasultor9480]

@@CordeliaWagner Scientists care and people that are interested in nature and discovering things. And those are not stinky critters, not more than dogs, cats, or even people. Imagine if all had such shallow and pompous attitude, we would have known nothing of biology.

[@jbtechcon7434]

@@CordeliaWagner Go make some friends.

[@ozymandiasultor9480]

@Nobody Important Slave labor? If those monkeys are not different from animals we keep like domestic animals that is not slave labor. On the other hand, if they can be put under blanket term of "humans" (because we are not only humans that existed, there were few other types) that would be considered slave labor. There is one interesting novel, I forgot its, name it was a long time when I was reading it, and the short version is that some are finding in some remote island living beings that are somewhere right in the middle between Homo Sapiens and chimps. And there is a dilemma, they can be used as very intelligent domestic animals, but if scientists decide that they are primitive human beings, that is slavery... That novel was given to us in university, to think about such problematic subjects. And for that other thing eating animals... Some eat dogs, our culture is such that it is taboo, for many eating pork is taboo, but in few countries, even cannibalism is not forbidden... That just speaks about differences in cultures.

[@soyjoyy]

I think the most human trait is stopping someone from giving yourself too much of their resources. When someone, for instance, gives you most of their snacks and you refuse, because you feel bad for taking too much of their food, even if you actually want it. In short - humbleness. Not all people are like this, but from my experience a substantial amount of individuals have this feeling to some degree.

[@nagoyen7292]

That reminds me of a story from a guy who survived a serial killer from being nice, I couldn't find the direct story again but essentially the serial killer would go around asking for rides and then money where his demands would get more and more demanding and overstepping until his patron would have to refuse and then he would attack them and kill them. The guy relaying the story said that his girlfriend was recently giving him crap for being a shitty person so when he ran into the serial killer (not knowing he was a serial killer ofc), no matter how outrageous the demand he decided that he would be a nice person that day and provide them all even going as far as giving each single dollar he had on him, the serial killer in the end apparently had a confused look on his face and then just left in the end so ig even serial killers have this trait to some degree

[@watsonwrote]

For me, food envy through a screen is so mild that it barely registers. But food envy in-person can be such a real and intense thing. It's rare to experience a situation were food is distributed very inequitably, but if you've ever had it happen to you, you really feel thousands of years of evolution rumbling in your brain. Imagine if you were in a room with a dozen people and they were all handed a slice of pizza while you were given a single saltine cracker, smelling the cheese rolling off the pizza from everyone around you. I think there's a reason it's rare lol

[@CosmosWorld]

You could even replace the food with money, better partner or anything that makes someone envious of you...

[@T1Oracle]

Where I used to live, I would see exotic cars all the time worth more than my house. I was still happy with my Altima. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@FilleFlingue]

@@T1Oracle food is different obviously!! Being hungry is way more attached to your instinct than wanting a car. I don't even have a car or my driving license and idc. But lacking food can be a trauma

[@jerseyboyce1]

weve found that a lot of animals recognize themselves as being different than others. though dogs fail the mirror/dot test, they will spend less time and not use the scent of their own urine to find friends and foes. showing that they recognized there own urine smell and that it represents something different than other dog or animal smells. we think this is based more on how the animal interprets their world. the dog does so mostly through smell. the monkeys and humans do so with eyes mostly.

[@jerseyboyce1]

@@paddor we are everyone and dogs see the world through their noses and are likely every bit as self aware as monkeys are

[@Red_._.]

@@paddor even i understood what he said and english ain't even my main language....

[@shinchannohara5621]

@@paddor Grammer police

[@merlin4real]

That's on a spectrum. Some breeds needed eyes more, sight hounds obviously use their eyes more and some groups like working breeds needed their eyes more than other breeds and I think relying on their eyes is a large part of what makes working breeds more intelligent than other groups. Pattern recognition and all that. Things like the beagle and red bone coon hound probably recognises you by smell, but border collie sees you coming.

[@jerseyboyce1]

I breed dogs. No matter how good a dogs eyesight is the way their brains work, they primarily see the world through the sense of smell

[@vatanak8146]

The fact that we can trace self awareness and theory of mind to some species of monkeys but not others is extremely important, by comparing species who have it to those who don't and their biological and evolutionary differences we could isolate what biological/physiological change between them is responsible for conscience. This raises so many opportunities for the study of the origins of consciousness

[@psycronizer]

well we already know the origin-the cerebral cortex-that outer and last layer of the mammalian primate brain that is no longer an actual essential part of governing the physiological processes to maintain homeostasis-basically, that part of the brain that has evolved due to sufficient conditions of plenty, allowing it to be tailored to the higher forms of decision making, basically, REASON, and on a personal note, watching these gorgeous little fellas makes me wonder how they will fare in the distant future if we continue to mess up, they may actually be better than us, in the long term, because without realizing it, WE are giving them an evolutionary boost, accelerating their decision making by modifying their environment to be more complex because of US ! Another thing, the ARROGANCE of some people, those religious types, who claim that these creatures are not worthy of having a so called "soul" and thus are less than us, or not even related to us, is a perfect example of blatant stupidity, to me, it's clear as day that they are our very, VERY close cousins.

[@billyandrew]

@@psycronizer 👏👏👏👍

[@Zuignap]

That is actually very interesting, damn. I hope some professionals have thought of that too cause I wanna know the outcome

[@Zuignap]

@@psycronizer I think you're giving humans WAY too much credit. I don't think we're accelerating their evolution in any way, I'd even argue we're making it harder for them. Imagine if they had the freedom of millions of trees where we built society. There is probably multiple reasons that us being the dominant species on earth hinders the development of every animal with a main one being we destroy almost all of their natural habitat

[@psycronizer]

@@Zuignap true, but by our very existence in their environment, we are adding complexity to their everyday decision making processes, that's what I was getting at.

[@db2184]

I think they understand implications and consequences of society. But they do not do things without thinking about what's in it for them.

[@nicoles1971]

actually, research on primates has suggested that chimpanzees can think about what’s in it for them, as they will try and make better social relationships in their troop months before they attempt to become the “alpha” of their group. fran’s de waals chimpanzee politics describes this rlly well if you’re interested!

[@SKULLY-qm8zk]

@@nicoles1971 so what your saying is Monkeys can plan a revolution?

[@taleseylad1249]

@@SKULLY-qm8zk they can, and here's one example that comes to mind There was an alpha chimpanzee that was mean to all lower than him, the alpha would suddenly attack his subordinates for no reason other than because he can, one day a lower chimp was grooming him (cleaning him) and the alpha bit him because why not. The lower chimp got fed up and fought back, and the other chimps attacked their leader as well. Let's just say it was a really gruesome end for the alpha chimp

[@Acridotheresfuscus]

The cucumber monkey throwing the cucumber with full force and anger at the researcher killed me.💀

[@Jackspiring]

I’ve heard of both of the first two studies before, there’s a bit more to the findings of the “friendly/selfish” token that wasn’t discussed where the monkeys treated the selfish tokens like currency with the alpha’s of the group taking the smaller monkeys’ tokens and hoarding a bunch of them and female monkeys even started prostituting themselves for selfish tokens (amazing and humbling, it’s exactly how we treat money)

[@specialaccount7631]

I heard they gave monkeys their own verson of the stock market to see what they would do, and they act exactly like humans do. By buying what others are buying, and immediately selling when everyone else sells. Not sure if its true, but I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest. Especially considered stocks are basically managed by computers that do the exact same shit we do just faster

[@danielcrawford4141]

Might be mentioned in the video but monkeys see people who give them food as “lower rank” which would result in them harassing people.

[@fuckyou_youtube]

This is gold! The monkey that was detached with the plexiglass is an example of people switching from phone calls to texting! People lie soooo much more now! They don't have to face you as much so they choose selfishly.

[@clayongunzelle9555]

It's easier to dismiss someone via the comment section on a video compared to in person when looking that person in the eye lol

[@Kathakathan11]

Absolutely

[@johnankrah299]

3:10 🤣 I just can't stop laughing at the poor monkeys reaction. Made my evening.

[@lhamaseveramenteirritada9760]

"I don't want this stupid cucumber, F*UCK YOU"

[@swagatbaruah7839]

I really had this question in my mind. As a zoology student , who loves philosophy too. I asked this question a lot too ❤️

[@Lukiel666]

Oh there was also an experiment to try to teach monkeys about money, using small round stones. One monkey noticed the separating cage door was not completely closed and grabbed the entire tray of stones heaving it into the enclosure through the bars ran back and with all the others scooped up the 'money' after which one male was observed trading a stone to a female for sex. Introducing money introduced bank robbery, jailbreak and prostitution. As for this video, monkeys have a ranked social order with lower classes eating last. Human tourists giving food out puts them at the lowest point of the social ladder. Don't attribute human morals to this action, they are living by the rules they grew up with. It's humans who lack a moral compass in this instance.

[@swagatbaruah7839]

@@Lukiel666 intresting 🤔

[@dangerfly]

If there's an intelligence gradient in animals why not an moral gradient? Why is it important that we distinguish exactly where they reach a threshold to be considered moral? We don't do the same for intelligence. It's a false dilemma.

[@dangerfly]

@@nyimakgan Thinking morality is exclusive to humans means you'd have a different word for morality for every intelligent alien species. Does that make any sense? Did humans also invent hunger? People used to think the Earth was the center of the universe before Copernicus revealed we're not even the center of our own solar system. People used to think only humans used tools until we see crows doing it. Isn't it obvious we narcissistically think we're special until science comes along and proves otherwise?

[@dangerfly]

​@@nyimakgan The concept of what's right and wrong doesn't exist in nature? Social animals like wolves, rats, ants etc don't have group rules they follow dictated by natural selection? If we generally follow evolution's rules and give it a name does it somehow make us the author and owner? Nature did all the hard work over millions of years and we're taking all the credit just because we can write. I hope you never translate Magpie language and realize they have sounds for enemies and who knows maybe even quantities.

[@DomyTheMad420]

I'd like to just THANK YOU for uploading on a sunday. most boring day on this damn platform

[@CyberMew]

Uncle Roger video is out too

[@tanmaysingh267]

Looming Monday

[@realscience]

lol no worries it was just because I wasn't finished yet on Saturday like I normally am

[@Knownsky]

@@CyberMew dawn Powerwash DishSpray.

[@lowgpu1687]

@@realscience My dad and I have a theory that depending on where the animal lives, and the climate there, it can be smarter or less smart. For instance, a Japanese macaque, they could be smart due to the cold climate that they have to survive in, they have to plan to survive. We also see this in human beings, people in much hotter climates tend to be less intelligent, while people in colder climates are more intelligent.

[@zidbits1528]

I love this channel. They actually go in-depth and explain rather than speculate and sensationalize. It was refreshing to watch... It's like back in the day, when you'd have an article that was mostly blogspam with a couple paragraphs about the topic, and then you'd have long-form articles that actually delved into the topic. Thank you for existing, keep it up!

[@seacucumberable]

Your content is mindblowingly crunchy, factsy, and moves tightly between many rationally connected fact-->conclusion-->question loops. Just really great stuff.

[@Spongebrain97]

Oh yeah I remember the cucumber and grape experiment, it is a classic, and a good demonstration of the perception of fairness. I would hope that the monkey who kept getting cucumbers eventually did get its grapes after the experiment was over

[@haveagreatday8248]

No, they get caged. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The Christ settled this issue long ago. Publish or perish BS academic study case example. Revolting.

[@HCG]

@@haveagreatday8248 lmao, pathetic

[@Knownsky]

Name translation: SpongeBob SquarePants

[@tonydai782]

@@paddor I don't think that they were trying to sound smart here. Just a comment showing empathy for the monkey.

[@Thor-Orion]

@@haveagreatday8248 people like you are why atheists make fun of everyone with faith.

[@sarthakthememegod]

So Well Made and Organised! Thanks for making this. Love this Channel

[@royroci2303]

Let me tell you an interesting fact. This is in Malaysia university. They usually infiltrate our hostel at day time looking for (stealing) food, but NEVER at night time. So at night time you can relax or sleep peacefully with window opened knowing they will never come or suddenly appear at your window ever. At dawn time, you can see they are marching back into the jungle area like there's an alarm or something. I wonder what were their colony looks like and what they do at night time.

[@alyciamarie4163]

That’s super neat!

[@DixieSchizo]

Just wait until 1 monkey becomes the night roamer

[@jessebean6589]

This channel is amazing, everytime I go to Google something y'all talk about you start covering exactly what I was going to Google. Great research, keep it up team.

[@kemamusa]

What ya think? We are just monkeys with smartphones.

[@ozymandiasultor9480]

apes with smartphones. Humans are one of 4 big apes.

[@ct-hv1uz]

If so then a monkey is more than most people are willing to give credit

[@jasepoag8930]

Angry cucumber monkey is my spirit animal.

[@gracie99999]

maybe not sense of self but unawares of damn mirror duh

[@adondiklon9217]

These videos are amazing, it's amazing how you can explain even pretty complex stuff in a way that everyone understands I am already waiting for the next video lol

[@gracie99999]

but rats can’t possibly be like human..so why test on em? i mean that 1% difference between us n monkey is obviously pretty huge ! a test was done sometime back prob in 60s where a lever was pushed by rats and the lever would electrocute neighboring mate while providing food for them.. there was another where itinkhey would get far less food but no punishment for mate.. they overall chose the one wit less foods

[@zacharywong483]

Great video! Congrats on the sponsorship! And that transition to it was so smooth!

[@Pantera270]

3:10 best part 😂

[@herissonlemes6899]

In this situation I would react the same way

[@Boringpenguin]

Monkey: Hey. F**k you.

[@dad378]

I laughed way to hard, the sass that monkey has.

[@gopnikstyle9148]

I like how he tries to get through the barrier! He's like 🥒??? Hold up wait a minute I'm about to slap this b@#ch

[@notarmchairhistorian7779]

"We apes together strong!" -monke

[@theanonymouschicken169]

Mmm monke

[@TheDiegoAranda]

The best and funniest transition I have ever seen from interesting content to paid advertising. I laughed heartily. Keep up the terrific work!

[@kayskaht2052]

I recently stumbled across this channel and it is S0 FASCINATING!!!! Well done!

[@larcomj]

This is awesome. I was thinking about this topic a couple of weeks ago and I think empathy is key.

[@mhavock]

Yes, it seems more like empathy and sympathy instead of 'morality'. They can mirror the pain of the other and they dont like it, therefore act accordingly.

[@thegoldenhexagon3999]

Morality for a being is pretty much just how much empathy/sympathy one has

[@System32F]

I Cared for monkey's for many years, and I would say from my own experience with them that they do have a morals and stuff just like us, They Look like they are very selfish and stuff but they are not if you watch them long enough, I frequently seen this monkey grab extra bananas and bringing them to a monkey that was rather disabled, The poor monkey had lost a eye and the remaining eye was had bad vision and he had lost a leg, These monkeys would often hang around each other play and groom all the time, when i seen that for the first time It made me choke up and teared me up, It was a eye opening experience seeing that, I knew they were very intelligent and very human like in many ways but seeing that in another animal really showed me we are not so special, Hopefully I can go work with monkeys again very soon, and I know all the monkeys will be extremely happy to see me back

[@gatovolador7618]

Experiences like this are life's true riches

[@mzamethodman7134]

Monkeys fr out here being wholesome as fuck

[@BadassRandomness]

I love this topic, what a great video! I've been getting into primatology (?) lately so this came at a wonderful time

[@Drew791]

Those Japanese macaques hit the lottery when they settled and propagated near those hot springs 😂

[@lesliesylvan]

9:15 The 'Butt" checker. Amazing, really~ Agree w/Dawkins regarding the "Selfish Gene" It's simply a survival technique; includes Love, etc.

[@mattt.5895]

Well, since "evil" is a completely subjective term (you might think stepping on a cricket in your house is "evil" while your friend might think it's totally fine), it would be really hard to determine if monkeys have a similar sense of morality to myself.

[@gresh1134]

Well, that's one point of view. It really depends on what you take to be "good" and "evil". However, most of the well-respected accounts of ethics do seek to ground morality in some objective measure. And I'm not sure the example you give really does demonstrate that morality itself is subjective - two people can come to contradictory moral judgements, yes, but both will presumably believe they have some reasonable justification for those judgements. The difference likely arrises from some difference in premises/assumptions/background information. Which is really not that different than what would happen when two scientists have differing points of view.

[@jennag3226]

Ummm no...there are some things that are objectively evil, such as murder. Stomping on a bug is definitely not evil. Wtf?😂

[@juanausensi499]

@@jennag3226 'Almost universally agreed on' and 'objective' aren't the same.

[@Thor-Orion]

@@juanausensi499 eh. Maybe. But now we're getting way into philosophy.

[@juanausensi499]

@@Thor-Orion That's inevitable when talking about morality.

[@billyandrew]

Utterly fascinating and thank you for uploading!

[@alioxinfree]

14:22 We all have food envy. We don't have to be the angry cucumber monkey: cue food delivery commercial. 😂 Best. Insert. Ever.

[@SuperHansburger93]

Oh I remember the cucumber monkey experiment. This has to be one of the funniest scientific experiments I had ever seen ^^ I'm happy to see it again in this video :)

[@trevornewkirk3224]

I’d be curious if they’ve done these tests on intelligent bird species

[@olivermontalvan1416]

I just discovered this channel and it's so interesting as well as very relaxing to watch tbh!

[@ZentaBon]

Personally I believe that the impulse to think of and consider other's feelings is an instinct. An instinct that can be trained out or reinforced depending on circumstances. I believe the same about humans. That all of our behaviors do come from instincts albeit refined and complex ones.

[@sammiemakki9339]

I’ve dealt with monkey quite a few times. And the evil ones are usually the ones locked up in cages for a long time. They are very cool animals. Red/orange monkeys seemed to be more evil too for some reason

[@heatheryearwood9199]

Well perhaps they are discriminated against so they react accordingly ....

[@Lialily11]

Your videos is great like always! I would love if you did one about the invasive lionfish!

[@CihatPeker]

Best KZbin channel! Every video is great! Keep it up sis ☺️

[@Tolredan]

that transition to the hello fresh sponsor made me laugh, well done

[@alanhonlunli]

Felt ironic, really.

[@MrDestroys]

As a wise turtle once said Monke

[@Rcaneneophyte8906]

& then?

[@nacidoparaestorbar7148]

@@Rcaneneophyte8906 Monke.

[@loganskiwyse7823]

I can think of plenty of humans that don't grasp the concept that not everyone believes the same way they do or perceive the world the same way they do. Those are the individuals trying to force others to live the same way they believe instead of accepting not all of us are actually the same.

[@ozymandiasultor9480]

Monkeys are "zoon politikon", social animals, as humans are, and it is understandable that they have those characteristics, some less, some more, evolution favors such behavior, and all have something to gain when they act in such way. But, at the same time, monkeys, especially chimps can be extremely aggressive, and because they are so strong, they can do a lot of damage. I would rather keep 3 pit bulls than one chimp. Chimps can act in the worst possible ways.

[@ghostshrimp5006]

Chimpanzees are rage given form

[@whatwhale5888]

"Id rather keep 3 pitbulls than one chimp"... Well yeah, no shit. Most pitbulls are sweet dogs. What a dumb comparison.

[@ahsokaventriss3268]

@@whatwhale5888 I love pitties so friggin much! Those huge, goofy heads, they look like they’re smiling! ☺️

[@ozymandiasultor9480]

@@whatwhale5888 Really? Well, I have seen some of those attacking a child, and if there were not enough people to kill them, that kid would have been dead. And here those are forbidden, the owners were taken into the police station, but you feel free to keep as many pit bull terriers are us wish, your problem.

[@ozymandiasultor9480]

@@ahsokaventriss3268 Sure, most of the time they are calm... But, sometimes are dangerous.

[@kadian666]

Thank you for introducing me to the angry cucumber monkey! Those three words in that order really made my planning

[@edp5226]

Real Science is almost at a MILLION SUBS. thumbs up. the way she talks is awesome. thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@Drew791]

I’ve watched a lot of those videos that follow around the Rhesus Macaques of Monkey Hill in Phuket. The amount of times they tea bag each other in the middle of the other crying for help or comfort is insane. They will also eat out of their pecking order without a second thought, if given the chance, which will almost always lead to the offender being seriously wounded even if only a couple months old. There’s little empathy on display from what I’ve seen but it may be skewed due to the interference of humans. Sometimes the area reminds me of an open air prison yard.

[@Katastrophe9009]

Monkey's using mirrors to inspect their own butts has got to be one of the most oddly human characteristics an animal has ever exhibited.

[@kellydalstok8900]

I see plenty of people every day who apparently never check their own butts, because if they did their butts wouldn’t be that size.

[@anixes]

@@kellydalstok8900 kinda sus, if you ask me

[@jbtechcon7434]

I always wonder about these animal behavior experiments, how do they keep the experimenters from giving the animals cues? Maybe the monkeys are doing what they do because they read the scientists' body language and figured out what they wanted to see. Maybe the scientist tensed up just slightly when she gave the monkey the cucumber, and THAT's why the monkey chucked it. Maybe she had a more pleasant expression or tone when she gave the other monkey the grape? Unless the rewards are dispensed by machine those variables could be biasing the whole thing badly.

[@ozymandiasultor9480]

Oh, you are complicating things without need. Use the Occam's razor.

[@jbtechcon7434]

@@ozymandiasultor9480 Well, no, scrutinizing an experiment for sources of accidental bias is not 'needlessly complicating things'. And Occam's Razor does not tell us to ignore the possibility of experimental bias.

[@jerrysstories711]

Yeah, that's a good thought. Way too many such animal behavior experiments got headlines then turned out to be nonsense for exactly the reasons you described. Remember Coco, the gorilla who could speak sign language? It was such an amazing and sometimes heartwarming story, also complete crap. Coco couldn't communicate anything coherent to any besides her two devoted trainers, who gave her lots of cues and imaginatively interpreted her responses.

[@WoodysAR]

Ugh. Grapes good. Cucumbers bad... (At least if you're a macaque monkey)

[@WoodysAR]

@@jerrysstories711 Many animals have learned to use language. You are uninformed.

[@radiantmind8729]

Haha… Nice segue into the ad at the end! Well done!

[@brookebradford8009]

(Chuckles) loved the transition into the sponsor segment… and thank you for not interrupting the progression of your thesis with an ad 😎

[@brookebradford8009]

I’m more interested in looking into what “Hello Fresh” has to offer as a result… will look for a link here first… (chuckles again) Fairness?

[@gefginn3699]

Great post my friend. Very interesting. I'm not keen on the idea of being in close proximity of any monkey. 🤣

[@gracie99999]

hell nah..i was in india n they betta shoplifter or humanlifter them any lifter and they go by gangs yo n u don’t wanna fk wit em cause hey don’t even Botha wit questions last..here is non

[@Actual_Neanderthal]

Cucumber Monkey deserves some grapes and a damn apology.

[@coachcaseyhill2890]

I don’t know if it’s different for apes but I saw a video of a chimp mother getting consoled by other chimps when she discovered her baby dead. It was pretty evident how strong the emotions were and how every nearby chimp was surrounding and comforting the mother. I have to assume they feel some level of empathy after watching that.

[@aaronworkgrierson1470]

I love the transition into the ad 😆 that was smooth

[@3mar00ss6]

11:00 that's hard for most humans including me... I always assume others are on the same page as me until I'm reminded otherwise, it takes conscious effort to remember that each person has their own way of thinking and doing things

[@Rebel8MAC]

This channel is mind-blowing. Thank you for bringing us all these different topics that are so well researched. YOU are amazing🤯

[@PopeAbibe]

yes, I needed this information for random conversational social trivia

[@UjjwalKumar_234]

Amazing episode .. Thanks.

[@CatCcat.]

This was informative and hilariously funny video 😅. It was fun to watch.

[@AJ-em2rb]

i dont know the full methodology and controls of these experiments but none seem to take into consideration the question of whether the subjects were aware of their own captivity. it's been shown many times that humans in captivity are more likely to work together and assist each other than ones that are fully free, why would other similar species be different?

[@the-human-being]

Brilliant and fascinating video as usual !, glad I finally found time to watch it. P.S. angry cucumber monkey is a term now isn’t it ?

[@RayAkuma]

13:15 Wow i never heard about this but always made the same argument as in "i like to help people and share things but not because I'm good or selfless but because it makes me feel good."

[@joe42m13]

Smarter animals in groups can often develop pro-social behavior, but that shouldn't be equated with morality: namely respect for the autonomy of others and their property.

[@beneficent2557]

That is not a naturally occuring thing. Case in point- vaccine mandates. No respect for autonomy.

[@trinomial-nomenclature]

I thought the point Richard Dawkins was going to make about altruism, was that at the end of it we still benefit from whatever action we did as we felt a sense of reward, as in our brain released dopamine because when we help other people, we feel good about doing so. So it may look like we're doing something for another person at the expense of ourselves, all the while unconsciously knowing we'll also be rewarded. But ...... I was way off 😂.

[@Volodimar]

You should read that book, R.D. is not that controversial, actually his ideas are mainstream in biology now.

[@c.eb.1216]

Why would he think the brain evolved to reward such behavior for no reason? He can't think there's no selective pressure going on to explain that (or at least at some point in their evolution). I'd think he'd refer to the concept of group evolution to explain prosocial behavior. If your group is healthy, you're more likely to survive.

[@jamesjoelholmes4541]

I think that was the best segue I've seen to the sponsor!!!! 😂 Really interesting essay as well.

[@oliverlangrall2014]

Oh you got me with the cooking ad. I was really anticipating some profound closure after, "we don't have to be the angry cucumber monkey!" haha

[@matbillings2533]

9:10 mark I laughed so hard! Probably way harder than I should have!

[@NeilCrouse99]

When we think of things that are, "Moral", it is ALWAYS, without exception, concerned with the health, welfare and survival of *"Community"*. Whatever that “Community” may be. (eg. Country you live in, town you live in, family you were born into, pets you have, friends you have, groups you belong to, etc.....) If any individual does something to harm those bonds, (of Community), whether physically or emotionally, whether it be to themselves, their pets, or those who they are companions with, THAT is what is considered to be “IMMORAL”. Anything which is a threat or causes harm to the healthy continuation, betterment or advancement of community, is what we, as human beings, determine to be Immoral. Now, you can call the desire that guides that purpose whatever makes you happy,... whether it be God or Allah or Zeus,... etc,.. PEACE FROM CANADA EVERYONE ツ

[@iminumst7827]

Exactly, in this sense morality can be objective without the need of a supernatural being. Moral behavior is one that makes the greater communities of humanity thrive, and there are objective measures we can use to determine what is and isn't healthy for a human community. That said, society is such a complex and intertwined entity that one of the dangers of this definition of morality is the ends justify the means behavior. Since we have imagination we can imagine harmful actions in the present that theoretically produce a greater benefit to societal health later. The problem with this, is that our theories are often wrong, not entirely wrong, but wrong enough to make it not worth committing to. As a result, trial and error remains one of the most potent tools of real progress and political ideology as one of the most overrated. The interesting thing about religion is that much like a living being, it experiences natural selection. Religion that causes self-destructive tendencies will gradually go extinct, and religions that produce net positive impacts on communities will thrive, reproduce, and adapt. I myself am certain no monotheistic sympathetic god exists, however, I accept that religion is still a compilation of average net positive wisdom, and that faith will make most people more strictly follow this wisdom leading to more reliable outcomes. One issue I take with my fellow atheists is the arrogance involved in one's own ability to build a moral compass from the ground up using logic. It sounds beautiful in theory, but even the top 1% IQ people will struggle to compile the necessary logic, tests, and information to figure out greater society as a whole. Atheists in general need to be more open to conventional wisdom and less deconstructionist / revolutionary. I wish both theists and atheists would more often understand that morality is a mechanism with a goal rooted in reality. And is neither entirely a supernatural phenomenon nor is it an entirely subjective feeling. Perhaps it's a mix of all three, but primarily it's an objective mechanism. Also from Canada :)

[@ozymandiasultor9480]

If only ethics was that simple. What is community? There are many things, many levels that we call community. And many times what is good for one community to which you belong is harmful to another bigger community to which you also belong. Ethics is quite complicated, and many things contradict, we can't say so easily and straightforwardly what is moral, and what is the moral thing to do. I always thought that the best rule about those things is the categorical imperative... One version of that Kantian imperative says: Act as if the maxims of your action were to become through your will a universal law of nature. Probably the best moral law I know.

[@eRic-hr3yl]

If I travel to the other side of the world, find one (only one) animal like a deer, a cat or a bird, and I torture and murder it in the most painful ways I can imagine, I am doing something clearly immoral. Yet I am not threatening in any way my community, my country, my family, my pets, my friends, any group I belong to, not even my own species neither the population of that specific animal that could i some way affect humans in that part of the world because I just killed a single individual. How do you explain it being so crearly immoral despite it being a virtually irrelevant action?

[@connorgrynol9021]

@@eRic-hr3yl one word: empathy. Even if it isn’t part of your community, people can still feel empathy for others. The phrase “dehumanize” is a bit misleading. The term means to deprive (someone or something) of human qualities, personality, or dignity. Animals can experience suffering, many of us consider suffering to be a human quality. I would argue that it is not immoral to torture a jellyfish or insects. Jellyfish are without brains and insects are like little drones. I would argue that the act is uncomfortable to watch because the way it reacts might suggest they experience pain (though they are merely reacting to danger) but I would not say that it is immoral.

[@connorgrynol9021]

@@iminumst7827 you don’t need to build a moral system from the ground up by yourself. We’ve had centuries of philosophy to understand the topic and there are thousands if not millions of philosophers today that could collaborate with one another to arrive at what is perhaps the best conclusion possible. Religion is a problem. It advocates for a variety of things that most people today would consider immoral. Like the persecution of homosexuals. Things like being exempt from taxes allows for religious groups to run like businesses while avoiding the burdens of businesses. Jehovah’s Witnesses own hotels that have nothing to do with their religion but still are exempt from taxes in the US. Churches charge their church goers with tithes and it’s a fact that religious countries and families are among the most impoverished people in the world. Back in the 1500s, the Roman Catholic Church began offering indulgences to try and settle their debts. It was just a piece of paper that said you would spend less time in purgatory, but people would spend all their money on it. Money that could go to food, taxes, and general well-being were being wasted on a piece of paper. I don’t know what you mean by conventional wisdom. Much of what we know about morality today is built on millennia of trial and error. The UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights was written after witnessing the atrocities that happened in WWII. There was nothing conventional about it but that document is perhaps the most moral standard humans have ever made. And I don’t know any atheists that claim morality is completely subjective. The goal is subjective but the means to that goal are objective. If my goal is to win in a game of chess, there are objectively better moves and there are objectively worse moves, but the goal is still subjective.

[@CellarDoorAU]

I love the video, especially lols 9:10 - @Real Science I'm wondering, who is the music artist and what is the track of music you used for those scenes, from 6:59 onwards?

[@jessepitt]

I have had my 97 powerstroke for 20 years and it is at almost 400k it’s still super reliable. I have done most of the usual mods but no tuner. I owned a 3rd gen Cummins that was very powerful and a great tow rig. For a daily driver and towing my relatively light work trailer the powerstroke is faster and more drivable given the extra thousand RPM available.

[@SUCCESSPASS]

It’s amazing that we’re so similar to monkeys genetically. Their genetic code is almost the same as ours, but we are far more intelligent.

[@halloweenallyearround4889]

Our intelligences are different, not better or worse. We're not the standard. There's no standard.

[@kara1782]

If you say so.

[@floo1465]

@@halloweenallyearround4889 you say this while you type on a miniaturized digital computer connected to a planetwide network of data that is serviced by satellites that we launched into space

[@blox3400]

@@floo1465 yea but monkeys have a extra pair of hands (their feet). I bet you feel so stupid now that you know that monkeys can climb trees well while you cant.

[@AndrewManook]

@@floo1465 Yep, these people are delusional.

[@oldmandoinghighkicksonlyin1368]

Some monkeys just want to watch the jungle burn.

[@jezusbloodie]

I'm pretty sure this is your greatest video (so far)

[@MrRandomstuff16]

That was the best ad transition I have ever heard

[@jtgd]

If they act and react to emotions, and are aware of their being, i think that suggests they practice some form of morality, whether they know it or not

[@differentlydifferent]

But isn't the ability to make a choice the whole point of morality? Otherwise it's just instinct

[@ZentaBon]

@@differentlydifferent I think morality is partly or mostly based on instincts. I think making a decision is still guided by instinct it doesn't matter which decision you make. I believe this about both humans and monkeys and any other animal.

[@ZentaBon]

@@differentlydifferent instinctually you're weighing pros and cons. Things like that. I believe we and other animals do this. I don't think there is a very distinct separation

[@illuminocalypse5210]

I love the clip of the little boy sharing his ice cream with the dog! That was just adorable ^_^

[@kviz1111]

Thanks very informational

[@edwardlu5553]

Banger video, also great transition into the Hello Fresh ad

[@ryan49805]

“Monkeys use the mirror to inspect their own butt” 😆

[@ozymandiasultor9480]

You can laugh, but they can do that using one mirror, I doubt that most people can do that, they have to use 2 mirrors.

[@phileas007]

@@ozymandiasultor9480 nope, just tried it out, 1 mirror is enough

[@ozymandiasultor9480]

@@phileas007 OK, I am happy for you... Some people have problems with doing that because some people are not so agile, and some can't see even what is in front because they are fat, so you can consider yourself lucky.

[@gracie99999]

would u rather ask anotha😳🤚

[@MAYBEMAYNOTBE2]

12:50 she took bigger bite

[@chrismanuel9768]

Then refused to give him another when he clearly wanted more.

[@MAYBEMAYNOTBE2]

@@chrismanuel9768 quit when you have upper hand

[@bronxvillebrer9723]

excellent! and the 14:40 sponsor segue is actually delightful & clever

[@hadesmyg1114]

12:44 that was the perfect example of primal instinctive empathy, and fairness 😂❤

[@andreysuprun4168]

That HelloFresh transition was perfection.

[@wantandlike]

inequity aversion- this made me feel warm on the inside, restores my faith in this world

[@haveagreatday8248]

It's better to have a gun and not need one than it is to need a gun and not have one. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Two monkey captivity cruelty-free statements that are Always true for Everyone. Do you think those monkeys wouldn't use Guns to secure their freedom if they could? But F em they can't right? How exactly did your thought process go? BTW f those damn dirty apes and monkeys but I'd never cage them for pointless Publish or Perish-motivated studies.

[@nettewilson5926]

Most humans are okay with gross inequity

[@haveagreatday8248]

@@nettewilson5926 most humans don't have the time, wealth, or energy to solve an issue that has more to do w an individual's desires and sense of self-worth beginning from their individuality instead of comparing themselves n their belongings n lifestyle to what others have. Most people realize that inequity isn't a matter of one's emotions. Emotions corrupt correct decision-making. Democrat's have forced people to stand by as men get paid instead if arrested for beating the crap out of women in organized female sports. Female inmates are getting pregnant in certain state prisons in both cases by Men who "identify" as women but who are physically men despite their mental desires. Can I "identify as a Billionaire and have at least a billionaire's line of credit? Gender is no different than any other desire to have or be what you lack. Inequity is a play on peoples emotional unrealistic view of the world. Dems use it to achieve the opposite of what they claim. You can't solve inequity because it ignores individuality. How long have you lived in countries w extreme poverity? How many people have you helped. Most people who say they care vote for Dems who Green Light Cartels increasing their profits compared to Trump who is their only existential threat. However, the Dems who lie about Trump n support the cartels are Elected by millions of Emotionally Ruled people who are Guilty of Enablimg, empowering n protecting the cartel's crimes against humanity because they're so easily controlled by emotions. Even when the undeniable truth is clearly been shown to them they are too miseducared n emotional to be grateful to be corrected. You can't help people who don't want to do what's required of them. I speak from experience living working in Brasil, Colombia , n Mexico plus I was born in Oakland. Go try n help you're going get murdered. It's EZ making little witty statements like yours but you can't get a passing grade or win a case in court or get a business loan. All you can do is Compare yourself to your assumptions of others. I think that is childish at best n strongly oppose it. Was that too much for you read? Red flag if it was. Thanks if you need anything I'll let you know what time it is. Right now it's dinner time! Don't enable cartels so you can't vote for Democrats. They're guilty at least by being complacent. It's undeniable. Don't ignore the obvious.

[@TheDecree93]

The sponsor read was golden lol. Love it

[@davids.4431]

I very much enjoy this topic as I myself have come to wonder about morality on other animals (first starting as a way to challenge my ethics teacher, the topic grew to catch my interest not long after). Now that i've watched this video I believe it accurate to recommend the book "Behave" by Robert Sapolsky, if anyone is to dive a little bit deeper into the subject (and related ones). I was greatly surprised (and slightly proud to be honest) to see many of the studies presented in Sapolsky's book, be showcased in this video too, sufficient reason to argue that, if you liked this video, you're likely to love Behave in the same manner. Though it centers on neurobiology, I am the prime example that this book can not only be understood, but thoroughly enjoyed by the layman, and hope that, if anyone is to check it out, my words bear their weight.

[@dj_laundry_list]

Your argument would have been stronger if it had included game theory, especially nash equilibria

[@Joe-Slow]

Do humans have a moral compass lmao