On Ants and Humans: Sociomorphic Projection in the History of Myrmecology

Abstract

The work presents the history of myrmecology from the biblical times of Solomon up to the works of Edward O. Wolson in the 20th century.

A special emphasis is given to the general idea about ants as developed by each of the authors, as well as to the mapping out of the contemporary ideas about social insect. The work points out that the portrait of the ant has always been related to the contemporary conception of human society and humanity as such.

Keywords

• myrmecology
• entomologists
• social behavior in animals
• human-animal relationships
• religion and nature