religion

[KagatobLuvsAnimu]

Originally Posted by leewong [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

This is where you and I disagree. We can definitely find traits like empathy, compassion, etc. in the animal kingdom but I wouldnt call that morality. Those are only traits we label as moral. Morality is a concept and concepts are formed by abstract thought. If an animal isnt capable of thinking abstractly then it cannot possess a morality. It can have traits that are moral to a morality possessing being like humans but cannot itself have morality.

How do you know where to draw the line though?

[leewong]

Originally Posted by KagatobLuvsAnimu [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

How do you know where to draw the line though?

Not sure what you mean by draw the line here. Abstract thought and empathy I suppose. You cannot have morality without those two essential ingredients. I am not arguing no other animal is incapable of abstract thought and empathy. It wouldnt surprise me if apes and chimpanzees could. If they can then I would say they possess a morality.

An ant ,on the other hand, has no possible way to think abstractly. While it may show traits that we would call moral (raising and tending to their young) they dont possess morality only instincts like self-preservation, etc.

Maybe that answers your question...

[KagatobLuvsAnimu]

Originally Posted by leewong [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Not sure what you mean by draw the line here. Abstract thought and empathy I suppose. You cannot have morality without those two essential ingredients. I am not arguing no other animal is incapable of abstract thought and empathy. It wouldnt surprise me if apes and chimpanzees could. If they can then I would say they possess a morality.

An ant ,on the other hand, has no possible way to think abstractly. While it may show traits that we would call moral (raising and tending to their young) they dont possess morality only instincts like self-preservation, etc.

Maybe that answers your question...

Your earlier post seemed to imply that the entire animal kingdom was incapable of possessing morality. That's why I asked.

[leewong]

Originally Posted by leewong [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Not sure what you mean by draw the line here. Abstract thought and empathy I suppose. You cannot have morality without those two essential ingredients. I am not arguing no other animal is incapable of abstract thought and empathy. It wouldnt surprise me if apes and chimpanzees could. If they can then I would say they possess a morality.

An ant ,on the other hand, has no possible way to think abstractly. While it may show traits that we would call moral (raising and tending to their young) they dont possess morality only instincts like self-preservation, etc.

Maybe that answers your question...

I would like to add something to the requirements for morality...an instinct for self-preservation.