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A Proximate Mechanism for Communities of Agents to Commemorate Long Dead Ancestors

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Abstract

Many human cultures engage in the collective commemoration of dead members of their community. Ancestor veneration and other forms of commemoration may help to reduce social distance within groups, thereby encouraging reciprocity and providing a significant survival advantage. Here we present a simulation in which a prototypical form of ancestor commemoration arises spontaneously among computational agents programmed to have a small number of established human capabilities. Specifically, ancestor commemoration arises among agents that: a) form relationships with each other, b) communicate those relationships to each other, and c) undergo cycles of life and death. By demonstrating that ancestor commemoration could have arisen from the interactions of a small number of simpler behavioural patterns, this simulation may provide insight into the workings of human cultural systems, and ideas about how to study ancestor commemoration among humans.

Suggested Citation

  • Bill Tomlinson, 2009. "A Proximate Mechanism for Communities of Agents to Commemorate Long Dead Ancestors," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 12(1), pages 1-7.
    • Handle: RePEc:jas:jasssj:2008-25-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stephen Younger, 2004. "The Effect of Communicating Normative Reputation on the Benefits of Resource Sharing in Simple Societies," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 7(1), pages 1-5.
    2. Michael D. Cohen & Rick L. Riolo & Robert Axelrod, 1999. "The Emergence of Social Organization in the Prisoner's Dilemma: How Context-Preservation and Other Factors Promote Cooperation," Working Papers 99-01-002, Santa Fe Institute.
    3. M. Afzal Upal, 2005. "Simulating the Emergence of New Religious Movements," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 8(1), pages 1-6.
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