Primates Socially Transmit Tool Practices, but Humans Share Meaning-Laden Customs
The custom of property emerges out of the social practice of tool use in primates when symbolic thought is applied to it. Primates socially transmit tool practices, but humans share meaning-laden customs. The thingness of property as a custom comes from tools. Tool use is embodied knowledge, and property embodies the claim, “This is mine!” Humans socially transmit property with moral force. With symbolic thought, we can think about our actions, or others’, in the past and in the future, and we can evaluate them to be good or bad. We contemplate our conduct and our character in regards to the connections we make with things.