From: Richard.Kouchoo@firstdata.com.au
Date: Thu Sep 18 2003 - 00:39:56 EDT
As has been pointed out before, these experiments (and these days there
seems a report like this - supposedly linking human morality/language to
animal behaviour and vice versa - on a monthly basis) only show what
animals do in a _post-event_ situation. The behaviour is correlated to
post-event _results_ only, and is a post-cognitive phenomenon.
To conclude from an experiment like this that "human's sense of justice is
inherited and not a social construct" as these people are quick to do, is
misplaced. The only viable conclusion could be that animal 'morality' (more
accurately behaviour) is a results-based one.
What these experiments can never do is to show the pre-meditative state of
animals and this is where humans come in.
Human beings seek justice for its own sake, not to get better quality food.
The sense of justice, real pre-meditative justice, can never evolve.
"Glenn Morton" <glennmorton@entouch.net>@lists.calvin.edu on 18/09/2003
12:21:39 PM
Sent by: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu
To: "Asa" <asa@calvin.edu>
cc:
Subject: Capuchin's show sense of justice/fair play
Justice is no longer an exclusively human trait
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3116678.stm
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