To Evolutionist: Where did morality come from?

Question

I've heard many people say it's a biproduct of evolutionary forces. They believe that morality is something that helps people to survive and thus easily explained within the realms of neo-darwinism.

Here's a logic experiment that has lead me to question this principle.

You are walking through a park when suddenly you hear a complete stranger's urgent cry for help. You have two options. You could run away and protect yourself, or you can towards the person to help them out. What would you consider to be the morally right thing to do? If neo-darwinism truely governs our morality, the answer would be that it is better to save yourself than to help the person out. Helping the person out could put two lives in danger instead of one so helping the person out in no way benifits the species or the individual.

Why then do we have the feeling that helping the person out is the right thing to do? Is self sacrifice something that seperates us from animals?

No one has presented a clear natural mechanism for morality to evolve. They have simply restated the idea that protection evolved as a defense mechanism. That doesn't work when you see large numbers of soldiers giving their lives to save one man. They know odds are more will die than are saved, but they do it anyways. It doesn't logically make since for morality to evolve that way.

The same will be true no matter how many people are put in danger to save the one person. Saving the one person is still the right thing to do. You know it and I know it.

Pointing out how animals might act similarly is not proof of a mechanism. It could also be interpreted to imply a similar creator.

Answer 1

Morality is a set of rules of what people think is right and wrong. Such rules are naturally occuring. Put three people in a room for long enough, and they'll make up rules.

What you're talking about in your question is compassion. Humans tend to form groups. We tend to have compassion for those in the groups and enmity for those outside of it. When hearing a cry for help, it is usually our compassion for the other person that causes us to help them.

Answer 2

It's called "society". The first social contract is, "I won't kill you and you won't kill me." Sound familiar? It's number six on a list I saw somewhere. Banding together is one of Man's strengths, and is found throughout the animal kingdom.

The "eusocial" animals (ants, bees, naked mole rats, etc.) represent the pinnacle of self sacrifice. Many animals take turns watching for predators while the rest of their group eats. Meerkats cluster together to drive away predators. The cliche is the "momma bird" faking a broken wing to draw predators away from the nest. True, none of these cases involve "strangers", but helping each other is a survival advantage.

To look at your case from the eyes of an amoral Darwinist male (for simplicity's sake I chose male), there are some things that factor in. If a man hears a woman scream, and rescues her, it may create a "mating" opportunity. If the risk is fifty-fifty, putting two lives at risk is a wash. Rescuing a stranger may have "intangible" benefits. Will the person you rescued do you a favor? Will a woman hearing the story think of you as a "hero"? Altruism has it's role in survival of the fittest. It's a balancing act between the social advantages of altruism, and taking a drowning man's hand so you can remove his watch.

Regarding my flippant remarks on the second commandment above, I try to entertain and inform as I write. I do not want the wording to be construed as disregard for the Ten Commandments which are the pillars of Western civilization. The fact that the Laws of respect precede the specifics does not diminish the importance. It is the shortesest and simplest. Religion bound more complex societies. I cannot say if religion is the work of God or the work of Man, nor can I say if religion is outdated, but the Ten Commandments are not outdated.

Answer 3

Already answered!! You asked this like 20 minutes ago.

Here's something that really happened! A baby monkey that was very spoiled by it's mother was studied in the wild. It's mother died. The baby (not helpless infant, well past that stage) was so "distraught" that it stopped eating and died within about 2 weeks. How did evolution cause that? Evolution doesn't work on individuals it works on species. Some individuals get messed up or so things that don't "make sense".

Ever notice that insects frequently sacrifice themselves for the nest? Why? Because it works!

Plus read my prev post on the cat and the fire in repsonse to the same question.

Answer 4

Many animal societies have evolved a sense of individual sacrifice for the collective good. It's not unique, and is probably stronger in most animal species than in humans. Besides, we don't attempt to help every distressed human we are aware of, or we wouldn't have an extra buck in our pocket and still have starving people in the world, so I wouldn't classify "self-sacrifice" as a defining human attribute or an inherent moral status.

Water buffalo circle the calves of a herd. Vunerable herbivores herd together to protect each other from the predators. Apes go to war with rival apes (at risk of personal death) to defend their clan. Ants drown themselves to form bridges in water so that others may cross safely. Individual Elk bulls will turn to fight to allow the rest of the herd escapes. And these "intincts" are probably evolutionary in origin, contributing to the overall perpetuation of the respective species.. In fact, compared to other communal animal species, Humans rank pretty low on the self-sacrifice scale.

Answer 5

Ok here it goes first most people would be scared to help going into panic mode, after they are safe they will feel guilty because one of the pack is about to be hurt, if we do interfere then were predisposed to act in that way just like ants have soldier ants to protect the QUeen and workers they will give up their life for others.

Answer 6

There is a perfectly natural explanation. Human society emerges necessitating co-operation and mutual protection. Children have an increasingly long childhood necessitating mutual support between parents-soon you have bonds developing, a sense of community responsibility-a sense of morality. No mystery, no need for deities or the supernatural.

Answer 7

Many a submarine skipper has had to seal off a compartment nonetheless crammed with seamen with the intention to shop the deliver and the standard public of its team. ethical alternatives are in many cases confusing. they at the instant are not consistently logical, although the suited ones, i've got faith, are logical and rational. The "Saving Ryan's Privates" state of affairs wasn't very practically one guy. It became approximately compassion. It became approximately one kin making extra desirable than its share of sacrifices. And between the questions the movie asked became, "Is it ethical to danger the lives of 8 infantrymen to shop one?" large action pictures ask significant questions yet do not consistently furnish a pat answer. They motivate theory. for my area, i presumed the fictitious superiors made a solid ethical selection. The Ryan kin had finished its area. permit the final surviving son return and allow the kin line to proceed. nonetheless, i'm one among people who believes each existence has properly worth and no soldier could desire to be left in the back of alive, if there is any clever probability of rescuing her or him. it must be that this may be a case of my heart overruling my head, my experience of compassion overruling good judgment.

Answer 8

Bees sacrifice themselves for their colony, birds for their eggs. Countless animals make personal sacrifice and risks for family and clan members, especially mammals.

In the end, we're no better than they are. In fact, I wonder if we are as good or as moral. Few animals, however, make sacrifice for non-family members. Perhaps that is where we are better, or perhaps that is where we are foolish. One thing is for certain, humanity barely made it through a few points in history. Perhaps it was our helpful nature that got us through those times?

Answer 9

Evolution created a need for balance between survival of self and survival of the species.

Answer 10

We are social animals, morality is a value rather than a behaviour. I could elaborate, but you could do with a library visit. Do read up on chimpansees (apes), baboons (monkeys), psychology, philosophy and .. Lemmings.