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Asked by clockwork18 to Edd, Jess, Zara on 23 Jun 2011.
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Zara Gladman answered on 23 Jun 2011:
Hi clockwork18
Awesome question. Some people would answer with “religion” – but if that was the case, then we’d be living in chaos… because non-religious people don’t think killing people is right either! I’m sure that the culture or environment that you’re brought up in must affect your opinion on what is right and wrong, however.
Maybe morality is in our genes… some people think we evolved to have morals. There are problems with this idea though. Having morals (knowing right from wrong) means that you care for other people. But evolution is based on the idea that only the best animals survive – “survival of the fittest” – and breed, passing on their genes to the next generation (this is called “natural selection”). You would think that the fittest animals would probably be the selfish ones… not the ones that look out for other animals! So how could it evolve? Well I suppose helping each other out has the potential beneficial… if I’m nice to somebody, maybe they’ll be nice to me back?
Are humans the only animals with morals? Some scientists who study animal behaviour might disagree: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/5373379/Animals-can-tell-right-from-wrong.html
I’m going to go have some lunch and have a think about this!
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Jessica Chu answered on 23 Jun 2011:
Hi clockwork18,
It’s a very hard topic if we try to explain that using scientific things…I have looked into this a while ago and I think Richard Dawkins can shed some light on this?
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Edward Codling answered on 23 Jun 2011:
I’m not sure this is a question that science can answer! Science is essentially neutral in that it is about acquiring knowledge. Knowledge can be good or bad depending on how we use it. For example, the study of quantum physics led to nuclear power (can be good or bad), technology like computers and TVs (good?) but also nuclear weapons (very bad).
I think to decide between right and wrong is difficult and has to be carefully considered, particularly when it comes to using new technology or scientific developments (e.g. GM crops, cloning). Often the decisions about what to do with these new technologies is made by non-scientists (politicians etc) and I think scientists should bring their knowledge and experience to the debate more so that as a society we can make more informed decisions about what to do.
As an aside, I was teaching my son the difference between right and left recently – but I guess that doesn’t really help here….! 😉
Comments
Zara commented on :
Someone just showed me this video – an orangutan trying to save a chick from drowning! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruEl0Hql4qs – making a case for animals having morals/caring? 🙂
Christine commented on :
Great question! We see this with pack animals looking after each other, animals “adopting” others as surrogate babies and even dogs defending their people. My nutter of a red setter puts on a good show when there is something like a door between him and the threat. If there isn’t, he will bravely defend the backs of my knees!