Wild Justice: The Moral Live of Animals
Immortalist
philosopher Pierce (Morality Play) explore the moral lives of such
commonly studied animals as primates, wolves, household rodents,
elephants, dolphins—and a few uncommon critters as well. Citing too
few examples (though the authors say that the more we look, the more
we'll see) and too many term definitions, this book presents studies
of rats refusing to obtain food if it means hurting another rat; the
care given by chimpanzees to a chimp stricken by cerebral palsy; and
comfort offered to grieving elephants by members of the same herd. The
authors contend that, in order to understand the moral compass by
which animals live, we must first expand our definition of morality to
include moral behavior unique to each species. Studies done by the
authors, as well as experts in the fields of psychology, human social
intelligence, zoology and other branches of relevant science
excellently bolster their claim.
Do animals feel empathy for each other, treat one another fairly,
cooperate toward common goals, and help each other out of trouble? In
short, do animals demonstrate morality? Bekoff and Pierce answer with
an emphatic “yes!” in this fusion of animal behavior, animal
cognition, and philosophy. The authors discuss the sense of fair play
and justice in nonhuman animals. Social animals form networks of
relationships, and these relationships rely on trust, reciprocity, and
flexibility—just as they do in humans. Calling these behaviors
morality, the authors present evidence that morality is an adaptive
strategy that has evolved in multiple animal groups. Basing their
argument for animal morality on published research (listed in the
generous bibliography) and anecdotal evidence, the authors group moral
behaviors into three clusters: cooperation, empathy, and justice, each
of which is discussed in turn. A final chapter is a synthesis of moral
behavior and philosophy, suggesting areas for further study and
discussion. The conversational tone and numerous illustrative examples
make this an excellent introduction to a new science. --Nancy Bent
http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Justice-Moral-Lives-Animals/dp/0226041611/