Two black ants walk forward.
What Ants Can Teach Us About Empathy
The lie of natural selection overlooks the truth of survival through cooperation.
The Bible and Quran both say that Solomon could hear the speech of the ants. This might be the next best thing: New research shows that when Matabele ants are hurt, “injured workers are carried back to the nest where other workers treat their wounds, by licking and grooming the wound during the first three hours after injury.”
They apparently know which wounds are infected, since “infected wounds are treated more often than sterile wounds.” The practice saves lives with “the targeted use of antimicrobials.”
The lead researcher on that study told The Washington Post that “the solutions these ants came up with should be translatable to some extent to our own system.” Another scientist said the study “speaks very strongly to the power of evolution at both the societal and individual levels,” adding, “Societies succeed when they protect their most vulnerable.”
If that study ever does lead to new ways of healing humans, it will be because of this simple act of empathy—and what it revealed about the power of empathy in others.
Our economic goals are almost always framed as individual: my wealth, my security, my success. So are our spiritual goals, for those who have them: my salvation, my enlightenment. That’s how “mindfulness” became the handmaiden of corporate consumerism. But we’re a collectivity, not just a cluster of random individuals. The lie of natural selection overlooks the truth of survival through cooperation.
I would say that, though. I’m the guy who says “we” and “us” when asked his pronouns.
That study only happened in the first place because the lead researcher accidentally ran over a swarm of ants. “I immediately got out of the car to check how the ants were doing,” he told the Post:
It was a massive mess, ants running around frantically. But they were also looking for injured individuals, picking up and carrying back those still worth saving. To my surprise, they left behind the ants that were too heavily injured. They were performing a type of triage.
He stopped the car out of concern for the ants and saw them rendering care to each other. If that study ever does lead to new ways of healing humans, it will be because of this simple act of empathy—and what it revealed about the power of empathy in others. The wisdom of it all is almost… well, Solomonic.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Richard (RJ) Eskow is a journalist who has written for a number of major publications. His weekly program, The Zero Hour, can be found on cable television, radio, Spotify, and podcast media.
The Bible and Quran both say that Solomon could hear the speech of the ants. This might be the next best thing: New research shows that when Matabele ants are hurt, “injured workers are carried back to the nest where other workers treat their wounds, by licking and grooming the wound during the first three hours after injury.”
They apparently know which wounds are infected, since “infected wounds are treated more often than sterile wounds.” The practice saves lives with “the targeted use of antimicrobials.”
The lead researcher on that study told The Washington Post that “the solutions these ants came up with should be translatable to some extent to our own system.” Another scientist said the study “speaks very strongly to the power of evolution at both the societal and individual levels,” adding, “Societies succeed when they protect their most vulnerable.”
If that study ever does lead to new ways of healing humans, it will be because of this simple act of empathy—and what it revealed about the power of empathy in others.
Our economic goals are almost always framed as individual: my wealth, my security, my success. So are our spiritual goals, for those who have them: my salvation, my enlightenment. That’s how “mindfulness” became the handmaiden of corporate consumerism. But we’re a collectivity, not just a cluster of random individuals. The lie of natural selection overlooks the truth of survival through cooperation.
I would say that, though. I’m the guy who says “we” and “us” when asked his pronouns.
That study only happened in the first place because the lead researcher accidentally ran over a swarm of ants. “I immediately got out of the car to check how the ants were doing,” he told the Post:
It was a massive mess, ants running around frantically. But they were also looking for injured individuals, picking up and carrying back those still worth saving. To my surprise, they left behind the ants that were too heavily injured. They were performing a type of triage.
He stopped the car out of concern for the ants and saw them rendering care to each other. If that study ever does lead to new ways of healing humans, it will be because of this simple act of empathy—and what it revealed about the power of empathy in others. The wisdom of it all is almost… well, Solomonic.
Richard (RJ) Eskow is a journalist who has written for a number of major publications. His weekly program, The Zero Hour, can be found on cable television, radio, Spotify, and podcast media.
The Bible and Quran both say that Solomon could hear the speech of the ants. This might be the next best thing: New research shows that when Matabele ants are hurt, “injured workers are carried back to the nest where other workers treat their wounds, by licking and grooming the wound during the first three hours after injury.”
They apparently know which wounds are infected, since “infected wounds are treated more often than sterile wounds.” The practice saves lives with “the targeted use of antimicrobials.”
The lead researcher on that study told The Washington Post that “the solutions these ants came up with should be translatable to some extent to our own system.” Another scientist said the study “speaks very strongly to the power of evolution at both the societal and individual levels,” adding, “Societies succeed when they protect their most vulnerable.”
If that study ever does lead to new ways of healing humans, it will be because of this simple act of empathy—and what it revealed about the power of empathy in others.
Our economic goals are almost always framed as individual: my wealth, my security, my success. So are our spiritual goals, for those who have them: my salvation, my enlightenment. That’s how “mindfulness” became the handmaiden of corporate consumerism. But we’re a collectivity, not just a cluster of random individuals. The lie of natural selection overlooks the truth of survival through cooperation.
I would say that, though. I’m the guy who says “we” and “us” when asked his pronouns.
That study only happened in the first place because the lead researcher accidentally ran over a swarm of ants. “I immediately got out of the car to check how the ants were doing,” he told the Post:
It was a massive mess, ants running around frantically. But they were also looking for injured individuals, picking up and carrying back those still worth saving. To my surprise, they left behind the ants that were too heavily injured. They were performing a type of triage.
He stopped the car out of concern for the ants and saw them rendering care to each other. If that study ever does lead to new ways of healing humans, it will be because of this simple act of empathy—and what it revealed about the power of empathy in others. The wisdom of it all is almost… well, Solomonic.