|
I have always (well for the last 30+ years)
associated the 'agonistic' in animal behaviour as relating to aggression.
Sure that can include or be related to competition but is something else.
Competition can occur without contact but 'agonistic' refers to actual
fighting or display or other actions connected with fighting or tension
reduction to avoid fighting. That magnificent and seminal book "Sociobiology" by
Edward O Wilson (Harvard 1975) defines 'agonistic' as "Referring to any activity
related to fighting, whether aggression or conciliation and retreat" (page
578).
It is indeed a curious thing that, as Martin
rightly says, the prefix 'ant' doesn't really work in this case as it normally
would. I suspect there must have been something else going on in the etymology
of either "agonistic" or "antagonistic", as they are clearly not
opposites. Indeed the most obvious difference is: the former is used in biology
and carries a technical and non-emotional use and the other is used to describe
people and to me at least, carries moralistic or judgemental
overtones.
Philip
|
Admin
The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering
takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely
a compilation of material sent by many people to the Canberra Ornithologists Group mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way.
If you wish to get material removed from the archive or
have other queries about the list contact David McDonald, list manager, phone (02) 6231 8904 or email
.
If you can not contact David McDonald e-mail
Andrew Taylor at this address:
andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU
|
