American physician, biologist, and author Lewis Thomas was well-known for his perceptive observations on nature and science. Ants' collective behavior is one of his most fascinating observations. According to his description in this passage, thousands of ants collaborate harmoniously to form a complex organism that functions as a single unit.

Imagine living in a busy city where everyone plays a part in keeping society running smoothly. Thomas also likens the ant colony to a living computer, where each ant functions as a bit or processing unit. Individual ants carry out their functions while working together to form an intelligent system, much like the individual parts of a computer perform basic tasks but when combined produce strong computations and intricate programs.

Thomas's analogy emphasizes how elegant and effective nature's designs are. It demonstrates that intelligence is not limited to a single entity but rather can arise from the cooperation of numerous tiny components working toward shared objectives. Similar to how people work together in industries like technology or medicine, this collective intelligence enables large-scale problem-solving.

Thomas challenges us to see beyond the actions of individuals and take into account the bigger picture, where collaboration fosters creativity and survival. Understanding the division of labor and group decision-making that ants use to effectively manage the needs of their colony can provide important insights into human society and how we set ourselves up for success.