What is Morgan's Canon in animal behavior

Morgan's Canon warns against giving animals overly complex motives

Morgan's Canon is a rule for explaining animal behavior. It says not to assume a complex mental process when a simpler one explains the behavior well enough. For example, researchers should not assume human-like reasoning or affection when simpler learning can explain what an animal does.

Qing rulers kept Beijing as their capital

After taking Beijing in 1644, the Qing kept it as their capital and retained most officials from the defeated Ming dynasty. Keeping the existing government center and bureaucracy helped stabilize Qing rule and speed the conquest of the rest of China.

Chinese accounts link Pyu cotton clothing to Buddhist nonviolence

The Pyu people, whose culture dominated Upper Burma from the early centuries CE through the 9th century, were said in Chinese accounts to wear cotton rather than silk. Those accounts linked the choice to Buddhist non-violence, because silk production involved killing silkworms.

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What is Morgan's Canon in animal behavior

Morgan's Canon warns against giving animals overly complex motives

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