Well, inasmuch as some animals follow leaders, most of them simply follow the oldest. The thing about being the oldest in the wilderness is that you don't have as many institutions (inherited wealth) to protect you from bad choices, so typically the oldest will at least be capable.
I wouldn't say that means that they wouldn't follow an imbecile; it doesn't mean that I would want to live like an animal. Plenty of traits of intelligence can get you killed if you don't have a robust enough society to protect you going out on a limb.
... Oldest/strongest/sexiest/most willing to bully basically animals have as many different ways of picking a leader as humans.
It's an idiotic premise said by someone who doesn't consider themselves part of the animal kingdom (we are). We (wrongly) did the same with indigenous people in the 1800s
I endorse almost everything you added here. Only, I don't know if sexiest is accurate, unless you mean in the unusual case of lifemates, but I don't consider mating in general the same as following a leader. Are there any non-human instances where a group follows an animal only for sexual fitness?
Note: I only separate humans from other animals in this case, because of the complex way our society allows us to make so many bizarre choices without immediate consequences, which is arguably what the original post was aiming at in an imprecise and inaccurate way.
That makes sense; even among humans, it does take a combination of looks and charisma to get others to follow. I don't think that wolves work that way on account of the way that the pack is always led by the parents, but maybe bonobos...
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It's an idiotic premise said by someone who doesn't consider themselves part of the animal kingdom (we are). We (wrongly) did the same with indigenous people in the 1800s
Wolf can be led by the most charismatic instead of strongest. Maybe I was just using a dumber flashier word for charismatic.