Primate biology and behavior

¶ … Scientist Finds the Beginnings of Morality in Primate Behavior," Nicholas Wade notes that primates demonstrate remarkably moral behavior, including risking their own lives to save another monkey, consoling losers of fights, or by refusing to take food if doing so meant administering a shock to a tribe mate. Referring to the primates' instinctual ethics as "the precursors of human morality," Wade could have just as easily argued that many primates have a keener moral sense than some humans do. Regardless, scientists have been searching for biological cues to morality: brain structures that govern morality. Basic morality on the level of chimpanzees is most likely rooted in emotional processing. Social constraints and the need for smooth-running societies are other reasons why primates demonstrate moral behaviors. Primates, unlike almost all other animals, seem to exhibit empathy and a high degree of self-awareness: preconditions for moral behavior. Moral thinking may even signal the ability to reason: which is usually considered solely within the domain of human cognition.

Morality may indeed be a method of creating and maintaining social stability, rather than some higher calling as religions would suggest. Plus, given the morality demonstrated in primate circles, human beings seem to be remarkably good at immorality. Morality must be more than the instinctual need to maintain social order because human societies are woefully immoral, filled with innumerable pain and suffering. If morality is as hard-wired as primate populations would have scientists believe, then more research is needed into the evolution of immoral behavior. It is highly likely that all immoral behavior stems from self-preservation or selfishness: which are antithetical to social harmony in many cases. The instinct to uplift the self in spite of others runs strong in human societies. Research on chimpanzees and other primates might shed light on why some individuals break free from the moral codes that others in their tribes ascribe to. The key questions that Wade's article raises are why some individuals have no trouble at all acting judiciously and with genuine concern for others, whereas others do not. If biology offers some clues to the origin and meaning of morality then why would brothers, sisters and other close relatives demonstrate such vastly different moral codes?

In "Has Science Found a Way to End All Wars?" John Horgan examines the phenomenon of warfare in primate societies, seeking explanations for similar behaviors in humans. War is, scientists are discovering, not inevitable based on primate social behavior and aggression. Interestingly, research suggests that aggression may cause elevated levels of testosterone, not the other way around. Moreover, aggression is hard-wired and inevitable but so too are traits related to cooperation and conflict resolution. Research among primate populations shows the remarkable capacity for primates to act and live peacefully with each other.

However, not all environmental conditions are conducive to peace. Note researchers, competition for resources is one of the main factors that engenders warfare and aggression. Interdependence is another key factor that can cause peace. When neighboring bands of primates interact with, socialize with, and cooperate with each other they tend to be more peaceful. The same is true for human societies.