How the Humble Leafcutter Ant Exhibits Complex Programmed Behaviors
Ancient Israel’s wisest king exhorted, “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest” (Prov. 6:6–8). At its surface, the obvious message is a charge to the indolent to learn from the industry of ants.
Modern scientific scrutiny of these tiny creatures and the complex societies they fashion proffers lessons of significant metaphysical impact as well. To the methodological naturalist, these marvelous societies are the consequence of blind, undirected processes. Engineer Eric Cassell, however, argues that certain behaviors exhibited by ants are best explained as the product of an...
graduated summa cum laude from California State University, Fresno, with a BS in molecular biology and a minor in cognitive psychology. As an undergraduate, she conducted research in immunology, microbiology, behavioral and cognitive psychology, scanning tunneling microscopy and genetics - having published research in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, and projects in scanning tunneling microscopy. Having recently completed an M.Ed. from University of Cincinnati and a Certificate in Apologetics with the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, Emily is currently an instructional designer/content developer for Moody Bible Institute and teaches organic chemistry and physics. As a former Darwinian evolutionist, Emily now regards the intelligent design arguments more credible than those proffered by Darwinists for explaining the origin of life.
Get Salvo in your inbox! This article originally appeared in Salvo, Issue #64, Spring 2023 Copyright © 2024 Salvo | www.salvomag.com https://salvomag.com/article/salvo64/ingenious-ants
