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Do animals have morals?

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No, animals are driven by their innate biological templates; humans are however, control largely by their social morays.
 
I think humans spend more time rationalizing about what's right and wrong and try to make up rules to help control their behavior... Animals seem to have an easier time doing the right thing without thinking about it.
 
morals are taught....now when you teach your dog to not shitt on the floor or hump your leg your teaching it morals.
 
Yes, why not?
Sure their morals are probably different than ours, and not as deep, but how does an animal not know right from wrong?
Falloutboy and DrPizza said it well.
For animals, they do the right thing more on instinct while humans will question it and go their own ways.
Still morals.
 
No. Morality is a concept based on human 'morality.' Many of the things that rule the natural universe don't fit into our morality, as it is based on a system of beliefs. If you can divorce yourself from the idea that a higher entity has an agenda for us to follow, the rest falls into place.
 
If you want an abstract moral code based on a percieved authority, then no. I heard of an interesting study done, though.

2 chimps in adjoining cages, so they can't touch each other but they can see each other. Both are trained to do some task (pull a lever or whatever) with food dispensed after a certain number of times the task is accomplished. Pretty straightforward. Here's the catch:

Chimp A had to perform the task a significant number of times more often than did Chimp B. After a period of time where Chimp A sees that he has to work harder for the same reward, he started exhibiting signs of agitation, depression and even aggression.

The researchers interpret this as meaning that chimps have a certain sense of fairness, sort of an "equal work for equal pay" kind of an idea. Fairness is an inherently moral value.

Now, consider this result in the context of the fact that the only universal moral value researchers have been able to find that trancends all cultures is reciprocity, in that if you give something up (time, work, money or even the life of a loved one), willingly or unwillingly, you should get something of fair value in return.

Kinda makes me think we may not be so different.

 
I'll say yes, until you define what you mean by "morals" outside of its generic definition.

Whatever argument you use to claim that animals don't have morals, I could very well use the exact same logic to negate humans having morals as well.
 
Originally posted by: tom3
Do animals have a sense of right and wrong? (I mean animals other than human beings, if that was confusing. And please include in the discussion any type of animals as you like)
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Since we have an innate moral sense, I would expect most social primates do as well. It's a useful adaptation to living together. However, nonsocial animals, especially those who have no need to raise their young, have little need for such a sense, so I wouldn't expect most species to have such a mental ability.

Of course, we also share an innate number sense with other animals, but ours is better developed and we have applied our reasoning to expand on that sense to create modern mathematics in a way that no other animal has, so while they can count to 3-5, we can do much more. I expect that similar results hold for our moral sense.
 
Originally posted by: Kibbo
If you want an abstract moral code based on a percieved authority, then no. I heard of an interesting study done, though.

2 chimps in adjoining cages, so they can't touch each other but they can see each other. Both are trained to do some task (pull a lever or whatever) with food dispensed after a certain number of times the task is accomplished. Pretty straightforward. Here's the catch:

Chimp A had to perform the task a significant number of times more often than did Chimp B. After a period of time where Chimp A sees that he has to work harder for the same reward, he started exhibiting signs of agitation, depression and even aggression.

The researchers interpret this as meaning that chimps have a certain sense of fairness, sort of an "equal work for equal pay" kind of an idea. Fairness is an inherently moral value.

Now, consider this result in the context of the fact that the only universal moral value researchers have been able to find that trancends all cultures is reciprocity, in that if you give something up (time, work, money or even the life of a loved one), willingly or unwillingly, you should get something of fair value in return.

Kinda makes me think we may not be so different.
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yup, i've also read of this study.

and moral values are just rather arbitrary rules of a group. they aren't really universal. just remember some people justify keeping women in bee keeper outfits with "moral" arguements😛 pack animals tend to have atleast some rules for their behavior.
 
Seeing as how morals are really just a tendency toward behavior patterns which aid the survival of the species, yes, most animals do.
 
I believe that the study Kibbo mentioned was done with monkeys and showed that they understand justice and suffer moral indignation, won't cooperate, when they are getting the shaft. There is no doubt in we are also innately moral.
 
humans are animals, so at least one species does, but i doubt that an animal such as a pirrana or something has one, be more specific please, animal is a huge category.
 
so what are morals anyway? if it is some kind of unspoken rule a group of society passes on through generations, then i am sure they do have morals. my sister's dog hides under the bed after he does something wrong, he knows when he is about to get spanked 🙂 why do we human beings want to be righteous and pretend to be moralistic? is it because of some kind of self-respect and/or satisfaction? or is it to simply avoid unpleasant consequences with other group members? if its the latter, then animals definitely have it. not so sure about the former however
 
lol, no.

It is painfully obvious that they do not... although I would be interested in an actual study of this.

There is a difference between learning "right" and "wrong" and morals....

I mean... you stick your hand in fire, you get burned.. so sticking your hand in fire is "wrong". That doesen't mean it's immoral. Or something.

Morality is a human concept.
 
thats what common sense suggets, but there is still a lot to be discovered in this world.. i wouldnt be so quick to jump to a conclusion.
 
Originally posted by: Eli
lol, no.

It is painfully obvious that they do not... although I would be interested in an actual study of this.

There is a difference between learning "right" and "wrong" and morals....

I mean... you stick your hand in fire, you get burned.. so sticking your hand in fire is "wrong". That doesen't mean it's immoral. Or something.

Morality is a human concept.
Click to expand...

Shhhhh.
 
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