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Artifact and Artifact Categorization: Comparing Humans and Capuchin Monkeys

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Abstract

We aim to show that far-related primates like humans and the capuchin monkeys show interesting correspondences in terms of artifact characterization and categorization. We investigate this issue by using a philosophically-inspired definition of physical artifact which, developed for human artifacts, turns out to be applicable for cross-species comparison. In this approach an artifact is created when an entity is intentionally selected and some capacities attributed to it (often characterizing a purpose). Behavioral studies suggest that this notion of artifact is not specific to the human kind. On the basis of the results of a series of field observations and experiments on wild capuchin monkeys that routinely use stone hammers and anvils, we show that the notions of intentional selection and attributed capacity appear to be at play in capuchins as well. The study also suggests that functional criteria and contextualization play a fundamental role in terms of artifact recognition and categorization in nonhuman primates.

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Notes

  1. The importance of constitution in this theory makes it closer to Baker’s approach (Baker 2004). Differently from Baker’s, artifacts here are not aggregates and the distinction between the artifact (ship) and the physical object (aggregate of planks) is preserved.

  2. In the DOLCE framework, types are non-physical entities of the ontological category of concepts, as introduced in (Masolo et al. 2004).

  3. See (Masolo et al. 2003) for further clarifications of the terminology regarding qualities among which we include attributed capacities.

  4. This characterization corresponds to the usual sense of tool in the lexicon as well as the use in ethology, but is quite different from Dipert’s definition (Dipert 1993) as in particular they are not limited to manufactured artifacts.

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Acknowledgments

This interdisciplinary work has arisen within the Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies of the Italian CNR, across the Laboratory for Applied Ontology and the Unit of Cognitive Primatology & Primate Center.

Permission to work in Brazil was granted by IBAMA and CNPq to N.S. and E.V. Thanks to the Oliveira family for permission to work at Boa Vista and logistical support. Thanks to Elsa Addessi to have collected the data of the Experiment here reported with E.V. and N.S.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LOA-ISTC-CNR, Trento, Italy

    Stefano Borgo & Laure Vieu

  2. PSE-IP-University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Noemi Spagnoletti

  3. UCP-ISTC-CNR, Rome, Italy

    Noemi Spagnoletti & Elisabetta Visalberghi

  4. IRIT-CNRS, Toulouse, France

    Laure Vieu

Authors
  1. Stefano Borgo
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  2. Noemi Spagnoletti
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  3. Laure Vieu
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  4. Elisabetta Visalberghi
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Correspondence to Stefano Borgo.

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Borgo, S., Spagnoletti, N., Vieu, L. et al. Artifact and Artifact Categorization: Comparing Humans and Capuchin Monkeys. Rev.Phil.Psych. 4, 375–389 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13164-013-0144-5

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