Thinking Experiment
Start with a cage containing five apes. In the cage,
hang a banana on a string and put stairs under it.
Before long, an ape will go to the stairs and start to
climb towards the Banana. As soon as he touches the
stairs, spray all of the apes with cold water. After a
while, another ape makes an attempt with the same
result-all the apes are sprayed with cold water.
Turn off the cold water.
If, later, another ape tries to climb the stairs, the
other apes will try to prevent it even though no water
sprays them.
Now, remove one ape from the cage and replace it with
a new one. The New ape sees the banana and wants to
climb the stairs. To his horror, all of the other apes
attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows
that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be
assaulted.
Next, remove another of the original five apes and
replace it with a New one.
The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The
previous Newcomer takes part in the punishment with
enthusiasm.
Again, replace a third original ape with a new one.
The new onem makes it to the stairs and is attacked as
well.
Two of the four apes that beat him have no idea why
they were not permitted to climb the stairs, or why they
are participating in the beating of the newest ape.
After replacing the fourth and fifth original apes,
all the apes which have been sprayed with cold water
have been replaced. Nevertheless, no ape ever again
approaches the stairs. Why not?
"Because that's the way it's always been around
here."
Sound familiar?
