Which animal specie (beside humans) has the most complex moral or ethical system?

Answer 1

Having observed nature as it appears in my backyard, along with a plethora of gerbils thanks to my kids, plus a wonderful dog that passed away two years ago at midwinter, and now a lovely cat who quite literally adopted US...

I must say that all animal life has an inherent sense of morality and a system of ethics. Example?

I watched in amazement as Saffron, our female gerbil, attend to the needs of her dying mate, Winny, then bury him. She was devastated for days and days after he died. She wasn't eating or drinking so to save her, we found her another mate.

In general, when it comes to the subjects of morality and ethics, human beings have a false sense of superiority and an abundant amount or arrogance.

Answer 2

Humans are moral and ethical? Just kidding. Probably Bonobos. The women are just as strong as the men and they are the only ape where rape does not happen. Also, the females have overly enlarged sexual genetallia. The women have sex with each other for pleasure only. Finally, they are the only other species of ape that has sex face to face and look into each others eyes.
So, while it may not be on the level we are at, I find it interesting that one small factor, such as strength has created a completly different dynamic for a group of apes then any other.
If we are going on intelligence obiously we have to stay with apes or maybe dolophins. I don't know much about dolophins/whales to know how they structure their heards, but I think it would be nice to look into.

Answer 3

Well probably monkeys. But really they do not have a moral or ethical system. Because they have nothing to define what a morals or ethics should be followed.

They do have certain rules to community living. But these would not be morals. The particular animal is just showing incapability to survive/coexsist in that community

Answer 4

The more suitable complicated social interactions between people than between different animals leads to larger issues that fall into the realm of morality, and larger complicated reasoning in the back of morals. The more suitable you recognize interplay and socialize, the more suitable time you should strengthen ethics and approaches to have interplay with human beings people and different animals are able to straight forward morality and ethics, which include putting oneself in threat for the threat-free practices of yet another, yet different animals do no longer have as complicated a morality, and would lack particular morals which include modesty, sharing, and politeness. it is real to various ranges in distinct species. different animals lack a the ability to understand complicated relationships between their needs and how issues artwork, and for this reason lack an ability to make complicated plans to fulfill those needs in themselves and others.

Answer 5

Hate to say it, but morals and ethics require people to be as part of the equation.

And honestly, if you don't have a belief in a superior morality, then your morality is no more real (or less real) then anyone else's morality. You just have to accept what your government says is your morality, in which case is it yours or your governments?

Same with religion. There are radical Muslims who commit suicide and there were radical "christians" in the Crusades who committed some major atrocities. These were not the morals of the people, but they held them to be their morals.

Point in question, if there is no absolute morality for humans (unless you believe in a divine creator), how can you ask if their is morality for animals? (And if their is a creator, He made us in His likeness... and didn't give any animals a conscience.

Answer 6

No animal has any moral system. But those which appear to have a "humanitarian" system are obviously those which are most intelligent, primarily higher primates. Even this however cannot rightfully be called "ethical", since it is directed only toward survival.
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Answer 7

That's impossible to know. Ethics and morals are something than can only be described by those who feel these emotions. They can't be learned by observance unless we know the subjects thoughts. Until we learn to talk with the animals, we'll never know the answer to this question.

Answer 8

Dogs are amazing. Have you ever come home to find a mess left by your dog? All you have to say is what did you do? They get all guilty and sad and they still love you unconditionally. They will protect you, feel your pain and play with you. I wish more people were like dogs. But that's not really morals or ethics, it's just feelings. I still love dogs.

May God Bless you.

Answer 9

Only human beings have ethical systems; other animal species follow their instinct.

Answer 10

Your not serious are you? The concept of Morality refers to the concept of human ethics - Animals do not have a concept of good or evil - they kill for food, or to protect territory. Religion is responsible for installing within us this feeling of guilt — also referred to as "right or wrong".

So only humans have moral and ethical codes.