Grading of Various Levels of "Morals" in Animals

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  • 動物の「モラル」のレベルについて
  • ドウブツ ノ モラル ノ レベル ニ ツイテ

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The "morals" of animals have often been described. In this paper it is proposed to establish the levels of "morals" among them.<BR>1. Level of species<BR>That a species is maintained at the "sacrifice" of the individual is the substance of animal life, and by itself has no connection with morals.<BR>2. Level of aggregation<BR>"Social inhibition" is "behavior patterns resembling morals(Lorenz)", but in fact it is only an innate habit or an instinct, as Lorenz also considers.<BR>3. Level of group<BR>Lorenz removed the parentheses of "morals", as he could find personality among preylag geese and acknowledged the same moral sentiments of friendship and love etc., as those in man.<BR>4. Level of personality<BR>There are many grades of "personality". Higher animals undergo psychological or mental conflicts and internal restraints. Only kinds of behavior in this grade can enter the category of morals, although they differ qualitatively from man's morals. The author designates them "submorals", distinguishing this from the "premorals" of primitive man.<BR>5. Level of the ecosystem<BR>The cycles of energy and the revolution of matter among producers, consumers and transformers at trophic levels might remind us of Buddhism's "samsara" (the cycles of life).

Journal

  • Kagaku tetsugaku

    Kagaku tetsugaku 3 159-173, 1970

    The Philosophy of Science Society, Japan

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