Some animals are surprisingly sensitive to the plight of others. Chimpanzees, who cannot swim, have drowned in zoo moats trying to save others. Given the chance to get food by pulling a chain that would also deliver an electric shock to a companion, rhesus monkeys will starve themselves for several days.
Biologists argue that these and other social behaviors are the precursors of human morality. They further believe that if morality grew out of behavioral rules shaped by evolution, it is for biologists, not philosophers or theologians, to say what these rules are.
One of my pet peeves is the argument that without religion humans would be amoral and warlike. (I am having the hardest time seeing how we would even notice a difference!)
But it is an argument that is obviously baseless and just another tool to suck people into accepting that they need to believe in a higher power in order to be truly human. Bullshit!
The fact is that all religions have very similar moral guidelines. They may differ on some points but the "don't kill and don't take" rules are in all belief systems. And it is also obviously observed in the animal kingdom as well. Of course almost all religions will allow you to kill those who do not observe your religion.(Exodus 32:27)
26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me." And all the Levites rallied to him.
27 Then he said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.' "
28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. The message here is do not piss God off!
Now maybe monkeys kill for food, or because you pissed them off, but they do not kill because you do not worship the same monkey God that they do. So who is more evolved?
EXCELLENT post. Thanks for the story.
ReplyDelete