http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruism_in_animals
If you believe humans are moral creaturesm but animals aare not, why do some of them behave altruistically?
2007-09-20 08:17:23 · 12 answers · asked by Eleventy 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is an area of much theorizing in the scientific community. Most instances of altruism in the animal kingdom are explained based on the organism being related to one another. Worker bees, for example, take care of eggs laid by the queen because the workers are daughters or sisters of the queen. Even though they will never reproduce they still assist in passing on their genes. Animals are innately driven to pass on their genes. It has nothing to do with them being moral or selfless, in fact, it is an act of selfishness if you want to ascribe human characteristics to animals.
2007-09-20 08:26:52 · answer #1 · answered by gerafalop 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well animals tend to behave altruistically for selfish reasons.
I'm not sure if you're genuinely asking the question though or trying to make a point. If you really want to know about kin altruism and reciprocal altrusim - see vampire bats - then surely you'd have asked this in zoology?
2007-09-20 08:34:26 · answer #2 · answered by Leviathan 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Humans ARE animals.
2007-09-20 08:22:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
They're not. Altruism is an ethical choice. Actually it's ultimately suicidal and therefor unethical, but animals act on instinct not free will.
2007-09-20 08:25:20 · answer #4 · answered by Officer Uggh 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Animals lack the capacity to behave altruistically, no matter how much you want to anthropomorphize them
2007-09-20 08:22:33 · answer #5 · answered by corvuequis 4 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Survival of the species.
2007-09-20 08:54:27 · answer #6 · answered by novangelis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because they are a further stage of evolution ahead from mankind... Only man is cruel and mean. Animals only cause harm to feed or to defend themselves.
2007-09-20 08:24:13 · answer #7 · answered by CiberNauta 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Why not? There is no real difference... except we're (usually) more intelligent.
I guess its only a dilemma if you don't think homosapians are animals...
2007-09-20 08:21:16 · answer #8 · answered by vérité 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Cooperating with our fellow beings, as well as being a reward in itself, is also a successful survival strategy..
2007-09-20 08:22:25 · answer #9 · answered by hog b 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I believe animals have morals as well, even if they aren't the same morals as ours.
2007-09-20 08:22:21 · answer #10 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋