Allegory of the Apes

Apes in a cage will remember lessons, long after they're applicable... like Humans. That's the way it's always been done! An allegory about how Apes are victims of systems-memory, and that they will remember to follow rules, even after they've forgotten why they were doing them in the first place (and never questioning why it might be OK to stop). Humans fall prey to the same false assumptions. ℹ️ Info           ~ Anonymous, Plato, many plagiarists Created: 2022-01-23

Allegory of the Apes

...and the human condition

• Start with a cage containing five apes.
• In the cage, hang a banana on a string and put stairs under it.
• Before long, an ape will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the apes with cold water.
• After a while, another ape makes an attempt with the same result --- all the apes are sprayed with cold water.
• After a while, turn off the cold water. If later, another ape tries to climb the stairs, the other apes will try to prevent it even though no water sprays them.
• Now, remove one ape from the cage and replace it with a new one.
• and The new ape sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his horror, all of the other apes attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.
• Next, remove another of the original five apes and replace it with a new one.
• The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm. The new ape has no idea why he is not permitted to climb the stairs, nor why he is participating in the beating of the newest ape.
• After a few more iterations, all the apes which have been sprayed with cold water have been replaced. Nevertheless, no ape ever again approaches the stairs.

Why not??

"Because that's the way it's always been around here!"

Conclusion

This story has brilliant corollaries on humanity as well.

In technology and computers it is the most common excuse for sticking with the status quo. It must be good because everyone else is doing it, right!?!?

This is called an appeal to authority, consensus, tradition, common practice, or bandwagon fallacies.

Until we learn to question and challenge more often, and tolerate that questioning, we'll never be more than primitive apes.

---

🔗 More

Thought Things that make you go, “hmmm…”, or at least made me write about it.

Skepticism Skepticism is the best of the isms: it is thinking critically and scientifically. Without it, we're just rubes.

Allegory of the Cave Plato's lessons to help people understand that "perception is reality".

Tags: Thought  Skepticism  Allegory of the Cave