A new foundation for the study of bird behaviour: Konrad Lorenz’s ‘Kumpan’ paper of 1935 - Journal of Ornithology
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The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Konrad Lorenz, Niko Tinbergen and Karl von Frisch in 1973 for their pioneering work during the 1930s and 1940s, in the study of animal behaviour. Lorenz established the foundations of ethology in 1935 in what has become known as his “Kumpan paper”. The paper focussed on the social relationships between conspecifics (i.e. ‘kumpans’, companions) and provided a much-needed conceptual framework for the study of animal behaviour. We describe the origins and immediate reception of Lorenz’s paper using his correspondence with colleagues, mainly Erwin Stresemann who was then the influential editor of Journal für Ornithologie. The Kumpan paper was notable for its extraordinary originality, but also for its length and—in parts—its incomprehensible language. Most of Lorenz’s concepts were rapidly superseded as the field of Ethology/Animal Behaviour developed over the following decades. The paper (translated in full into English only in 1970) is rarely read today, but as we show, many of Lorenz’s observations of birds are both timeless and highly original and have the potential to inspire further research today.
  • @HaggunenonsOPM
    1•1 year ago

    Summary made by Quivr/GPT-4

    This document is a discussion about a scientific paper written by Lorenz, a pioneer in the field of ethology (the study of animal behavior). The paper, referred to as the “Kumpan” paper, was groundbreaking in its time and was published in the Journal für Ornithologie (JfO), edited by Stresemann.

    The document reveals that Lorenz’s paper was written not just for ornithologists, but also for psychologists and environmental researchers. The paper was intended to challenge the predominantly laboratory-based view of animal behavior held by American behaviorists, which Lorenz saw as artificial.

    The document also discusses the difficulties Lorenz faced in writing the paper, including the need to explain concepts that were self-evident to ornithologists to a broader audience. Despite these challenges, Lorenz was determined to have his work published in the JfO, as acceptance by the journal would be sufficient for him to obtain a lectureship.

    The document also reveals that Lorenz’s paper was controversial when it was first published. It was long, written in a difficult philosophical language, and presented a new perspective on the study of animal behavior. Despite this, the paper was accepted by the JfO without any editorial changes, which was unusual given Stresemann’s reputation as a strict editor.

    The document also mentions that Lorenz’s paper was immediately recognized by Margaret Morse Nice, a prominent American ornithologist, who produced a summary of the paper for English-speaking audiences.

    In summary, this document discusses the challenges Lorenz faced in writing and publishing his groundbreaking paper on animal behavior, the controversy it caused upon publication, and its eventual recognition and influence in the field of ethology.