Biohistory Jyournal, Winter, 2002

Research: Index > Darwin’s earthworm research and affordance

Darwin’s earthworm research and affordance

Naoya Hosoda

Having observed the earthworm plug its hole, Darwin discovered that the earthworm had the ability to detect the characteristics of its environment and modify its behavior accordingly. This behavior is the same as that of a human being with intelligence. This potential for behavior that the environment affords the animal is what Gibson calls affordance. Using affordance as the basis, a system can be perceived that achieves a result in which the heart of both the earthworm and the human becomes one with the environment. Earthworm psychology is also possible.

Darwin observed the earthworm and its trait of using dead leaves to fill up the entrance of a hole it has dug. He found that the earthworm placed the leaves in directions that enabled leaves of different shapes to be pulled into the small hole. Darwin used the word intelligence to refer to this ability that is not instinct, trial and error, or a reflection. The earthworm lacks both eyes and a clear structure that could be called a brain. Why does it behave in this manner? Is such a thing as earthworm psychology possible? Charles Darwin was the one who tried to find out.

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