Further: If we are not the only moral creatures, what implications does that have for god, creation, etc...?
Please see this article:
http://www.emory.edu/LIVING_LINKS/capuchins/capuchins.pdf
And this associated video:
http://www.emory.edu/LIVING_LINKS/capuchins/capuchin_bar_pull.ram
before answering. Thank you for all your opinions!
2006-08-04 05:39:14 · 17 answers · asked by Michael 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A few of you are reading the article and not watching the clip. That's fine, but I highly recommend the latter as well. It really brings the experiment to life.
2006-08-04 05:59:41 · update #1
Isn't it irritating when people refuse to click links that are essential to your question?
Anyway -- I think this was a very fascinating article. I didn't watch the video, tho. I would have to conclude after reading it that animals absolutely are moral creatures. It's such a wonderfult thought to imagine them sharing food and helping each other. So -- maybe if we de-evolved back into monkeys the world would be a nicer place where people are actually willing to stick their neck out for one another and help!
2006-08-04 05:49:23 · answer #1 · answered by Phoenix's Mommy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the word 'humane' is an ironic one. What is more cruel than a human being? Animals never deliberately and with perverse malice hurt another being. Only humans do that. What indeed does it say about God, or the concept of God? Many, many humans' God is a wrathful and violent one. And yet to me, the essence of morality is doing no harm. Love. Compassion. In many people's 'God' where are those things?
The Earth's natural system of animals, plants, elements, and the Earth itself is very moral and fair, it's humans who come up lacking in the morality department.
But no I'm not bitter, this is just my observation.
2006-08-04 05:50:24 · answer #2 · answered by a_delphic_oracle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read the story - didnt watch the clip. This sounds like simple socialization more than morality. Besides, morality is doing the right thing by instrinct - and dont all animals (including us humans) have instincts?
Furthermore, the article states that this phenom seems to have EVOLVED...funny how you can see God in the equation, but cant see evolution working....
2006-08-04 05:49:44 · answer #3 · answered by YDoncha_Blowme 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably you are confusing training with morality.
Anyways, Jesus died to save man and that implies that we are the only created beings with the option to make a choice to follow God or not. We were created separate from the animals, animals were spoken into being while humans were created by the hand of God in the image of God - Genesis 1.
We are the only creatures on earth with morality and as far as the Bible states in Revelation 7 we are the only fallen world. Why would you group yourself with animals even on the level morality? Morality implies intelligence animals do not have intelligence they have instinct only!
2006-08-04 05:47:40 · answer #4 · answered by Damian 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I disagree. I think that the four legged animal species have more morality than humans. Not in the same way perhaps, but some animals mate for life, and are never unfaithful.
Others kill, but only for food, whereas humans kill for thrill, out of passion, in a rage, to get 'even', and the mass murder of wars.
When have you ever seen thousands of one species of four legged animals lined up against the same species with guns and bombs to annihilate each other.
Four legged animals protect their young against predators. They also don't put them up for adoptions. And they don't have abortions.
And I'm just getting started.
Uh- what was your question again?
2006-08-04 05:48:22 · answer #5 · answered by theophilus 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, nearly every species has it's own morality - an accepted moral or behavioral structure within the species. Man doesn't usually kill it's mambers who step outside the norms. But the animal world will.
2006-08-04 05:45:33 · answer #6 · answered by Bruce 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Morals are about doing the right thing by instinct. All animals have instincts. Why would this affect God in the equation?
2006-08-04 05:44:00 · answer #7 · answered by jmmevolve 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we are not the onLy moraL creatures, this affects the Bible because the Bible says that humans ate of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, if animals can be moraL too either they ate of the tree or the story is BS.
2006-08-04 05:57:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The morality of animals is relative to their society standards, for us to say that one is moral we would have to completely understand their social dynamics. Since we're humans I believe that it is a bit presumptuous to say what animal is moral because it is only possible to judge by our own social standards.
2006-08-04 05:49:19 · answer #9 · answered by righton 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are the only ones with "Free will of choice"
others go on instinct alone and can be taught things
2006-08-04 05:44:21 · answer #10 · answered by snuggels102 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋