Can Fish Count?: What Animals Reveal About Our Uniquely Mathematical Minds

by Brian Butterworth

Overview

An entertaining investigation of the numerical abilities of animals and our own appetite for arithmetic 

The philosopher Bertrand Russell once observed that realizing that a pair of apples and the passage of two days could somehow both be represented by the concept we call “two” was one of the most astonishing discoveries anyone had ever made. So what do we make of the incredible fact that animals seem to have inherent mathematical abilities? As cognitive psychologist Brian Butterworth shows us in Can Fish Count?, many “simple” animals—such as bees, which count trees and fence posts, and guppies, which can size up groups—have a sense of numbers. And unlike humans, they don’t need to be taught.  

In telling animals’ stories, Butterworth shines new light on one of our most ancient questions: Just where, exactly, do numbers come from? He reveals how insights gleaned from studying animals can help us make better sense of our own abilities. Full of discovery and delight, Can Fish Count? is an astonishing journey through the animal kingdom and the human mind. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781541620810
Publisher:	Basic Books
Publication date:	04/26/2022
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	620,767
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.70(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Brian Butterworth is emeritus professor of cognitive neuropsychology at University College London, working on the genetics and neuroscience of mathematical abilities and disabilities. He is a fellow of the British Academy and the author of What Counts, as well as of several academic books. He lives in London.  

Table of Contents

Preface 1

1 The Language of the Universe 7

2 Can Humans Count? 36

3 Bones, Stones and the Earliest Counting Words 83

4 Can Apes and Monkeys Count? 120

5 Mammals Great and Small 157

6 Can Birds Count? 174

7 Can Amphibians and Reptiles Count? 199

8 Can Fish Count? 214

9 Are Bigger Brains Really Better? 235

10 What Counts? 277

References 313

Acknowledgements 349

Image Credits and Sources 351

Index 355

Editorial Reviews

01/24/2022

Counting is far more complex than it may seem, according to this savvy survey from cognitive neuropsychology professor Butterworth (Dyscalculia). He begins by positing that humans have “an innate capacity to count,” even though some cultures don’t make use of actual counting words, and backs up the claim with research he and his colleagues have performed to study children’s relationship to counting. He also offers data indicating that Stone Age humans used counting words and that Neanderthals and Homo erectus “recorded counts on bones, stones and cave walls.” Butterworth then moves on to explore the abilities of an array of animals to use math: some chimps have “solved the travelling salesman problem,” while birds have proven to be as mathematically astute as a seven-year-old child, female Túngara frogs count male call notes, and fish have demonstrated an ability to identify and pick larger numbers, especially when they calculate in pairs. In the end, Butterworth writes, the ability to perform mathematical calculations extends very far back in the evolution of life, and a basic sense of numeracy is an evolutionary advantage leading to enhanced reproduction, food gathering, and predator avoidance. Though occasionally the writing can be long-winded and jargony, the plentiful real-world examples are always enlightening and entertaining. Math-minded readers will find this a fun ride. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

The plentiful real-world examples are always enlightening and entertaining. Math-minded readers will find this a fun ride.”
 —Publishers Weekly

“An informative read, full of thought provoking studies and animal observations.”—Booklist

“Since we humans developed mathematics to optimize our lives, it’s not much of a stretch to assume that other living creatures must have developed their own kinds of mathematics — but how could we find out?  Butterworth’s descriptions of the ingenious methods scientists have come up with to uncover the hidden mathematical world of our fellow creatures will amaze you.”
 —Keith Devlin, Ph.D., mathematician and author of The Math Instinct

“What I like best about this fascinating book is the detail. Brian Butterworth doesn't just tell us stories of animals with numerical abilities: he tells us about the underlying science. Elegantly written and a joy to read.”—Professor Ian Stewart, FRS, author of What's the Use?

“Can Fish Count? explores the intriguing ways of counting around the world, from Neanderthals and ancient human civilizations to animals as diverse as primates, insects, and – you guessed it – fish. Brian Butterworth’s fascinating research demonstrates that counting is everywhere and has accompanied us since our Cambrian ancestors.”
 —Lars Chittka, Professor of Sensory and Behavioural Ecology, Queen Mary University of London

From the Publisher