Posted on 10/30/2006 10:07:24 PM PST by neverdem
Who doesn’t know the difference between right and wrong? Yet that essential knowledge, generally assumed to come from parental teaching or religious or legal instruction, could turn out to have a quite different origin.
Primatologists like Frans de Waal have long argued that the roots of human morality are evident in social animals like apes and monkeys. The animals’ feelings of empathy and expectations of reciprocity are essential behaviors for mammalian group living and can be regarded as a counterpart of human morality.
Marc D. Hauser, a Harvard biologist, has built on this idea to propose that people are born with a moral grammar wired into their neural circuits by evolution. In a new book, “Moral Minds” (HarperCollins 2006), he argues that the grammar generates instant moral judgments which, in part because of the quick decisions that must be made in life-or-death situations, are inaccessible to the conscious mind.
People are generally unaware of this process because the mind is adept at coming up with plausible rationalizations for why it arrived at a decision generated subconsciously.
Dr. Hauser presents his argument as a hypothesis to be proved, not as an established fact. But it is an idea that he roots in solid ground, including his own and others’ work with primates and in empirical results derived by moral philosophers.
The proposal, if true, would have far-reaching consequences. It implies that parents and teachers are not teaching children the rules of correct behavior from scratch but are, at best, giving shape to an innate behavior. And it suggests that religions are not the source of moral codes but, rather, social enforcers of instinctive moral behavior.
Both atheists and people belonging to a wide range of faiths make the same moral judgments, Dr. Hauser writes, implying “that the system that unconsciously generates...”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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If this is true, then why do we have to teach our children to behave.
Paul's letter to the Romans, chapter 2 (nore especially verse 15 where Paul says that people who have NOT been taught the moral Law of God still instinctively know the basics of the moral Law of God)
14. For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15. in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16. on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
New American Standard Version
"Nevertheless, researchers’ idea of a good hypothesis is one that generates interesting and testable predictions. By this criterion, the proposal of an innate moral grammar seems unlikely to disappoint."
Ok.....explain Clinton
Because like most things in this world, it isn't ABSOLUTELY true, it's only a mental construct to describe certain things we observe.
Children still need raising. Obviously, we aren't completely hard-wired creatures. And, humans have free will. Even when we know right and wrong, humans can and do chose to do wrong, for many, mostly selfish reasons.
I've never read the book in question, but I have read another, wonderful book, called "The Moral Animal" by Robin Wright, that apparently deals with many of the same issues. I highly recommend it.
Beelzebub
"Why do we have to teach our children to behave."
As the article says, although there may be an instinct to do things that are right, these instincts still have to be shaped. Also many things that we consider misbehavior might not be considered misbehavior in other places and conditions.
I think that he is especially referring to such spontaneous moral reactions as jumping into the water to save someone who is drowning. In baboons, this would be like one of the dominant males jumping in front of a leopard to prevent females and young from being attacked.
It would be interesting to genetically examine normal people and sociopaths, and see if there are genes missing in the sociopaths that normal people have. This would explain a lot.
I read an interesting study regarding the extinction of spontaneous reaching behavior in toddlers. Toddlers were presented with a fuzzy stuffed animal and when they reached for it they were given a mild shock. On average it took 23 shocks before they stopped reaching. Then they tried the same thing with a rubber snake. It only took 3 shocks to make them stop reaching. Obviously, while living in jungle trees, it would be very pro survival to learn quickly to avoid snakes.
So I wonder how they select their judges and lawmakers to legislate morality.
"Obviously, while living in jungle trees, it would be very pro survival to learn quickly to avoid snakes."
How many fuzzy stuffed animals are hanging around in trees? :]
Uh, doc---it ain't just "primates". ANY animal species that has a group social structure (be it lions, wolves, elephants or buffalo) has evolved similar behavior.
1. Man knows he is mortal, and
2. Man finds humor in flatulence.
Coulda,
Woulda,
Shoulda!
Never any FACTS; but PLENTY of ASSUMPTIONS!
Nothing new here: move along...
Judges 21: 25
In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.
So have I!
Try doing the SNAKE first and THEN the fuzzy!!!
(How STUPID can some 'researchers' be??!!)
You guys might be interested... ;^)
If this is true, then why do we have to teach our children to behave.
If your children are behaving badly they must have learned how to miss-behave from someone else since without outside influence they are apparently perfect according to the article.
Goodness is inherent
Badness is taught
??
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