It just tells me that creation is woven toghether. So many times we disect and put subjects in a box and study it. But in my oppinion it was never the case. Everything is connected. Just like the emotional effects the physical. Both can be studied separatly but they still belong and share and influence the same body. It’s a relational thing…

Interesting and controversial topic, but an important question to ask. Too often those of us who wish to emphasize the differences between man and beast dismiss these questions without truly contemplating them. Perhaps the answer rests in the metaphysics of soul and spirit. Undeniably, there is a similar foundation in creation that results from the nature of God, but where do we draw the line between accountable man and the entrusted creation?

You might enjoy watching the 3 part series on Nova called “Becoming Human.” A friend and I watched it together and it generates some interesting conversation. It is available on the Nova website in the archives, I think. Try this link….  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/beta/evolution/becoming-human-part-1.html  Let me know if it works.

John Brasch

could it be that some of these ‘higher things’ morals, kindness, a sense of what is right and good are aspects of the creators nature and as the creator interacts with all of creation it is all influenced by him.

Maybe an aspect of what we in my tradition refer to a preventing grace maybe something a bit more developed.

many who have owned dogs or even other pets have seen them act in the pest interest of others even knowingly putting them self in harms way for those who are ‘close to them’ alla “Old Yeller”.

Thanks, Courtney, John, and Steve.  These are great insights and questions.

And, John, I got the link to work.  The series looks interesting!

There is little doubt that “morality” exists in animals. Selection pressures on animals led to things we consider moral behaviors—such as a sense of justice being in tensionwith a sense of reconciliation. Frans DuWaal (Yerkes Primate Center Director) has shown countless time that non-human primates have reconciliation rituals employed after one of the primates transgresses. Similarly, they seek vengeance (and justice) within the troupe. But a balance exists, necessitating both justice and reconciliation. If there were no justice, no punishment for a transgression, then greedy primates would monopolize the resources of the troupe and many members would not survive. There is selection advantage in troupes that have justice. But, if punishment damages the offender or casts the offender out of the troupe, then the offender is subject to predation and the troupe is decreased in strength by one. Thus, selection advantage goes to animals that can also reconcile.

However, it is somewhat misleading to call these moral virtues in the same way we think of humans making reasoned moral decisions. The difference is stark.

On the other hand, the social intuitionist approach to morals put forth by Jonathan Haidt suggests that we make many moral judgments by emotional, intuitive reaction. In cognitive Psychology we have system 1 cognition (i.e., non-verbal intuitional thinking, or “thin-slicing” as Malcolm Gladwell calls it) and system 2 cognition (i.e., rational analysis). Both are legitimate human cognition. System 1 cognition can be subjected to system 2 analytic cognition, modifying it.

Animals appear to have something like pre-system 1 moral cognition. It probably is not like human system-1 cognition, but is a preliminnarly version of it. But they do not have system 2 cognition.

So, yes, there are similiarities in non-human animal and human moral cognition. But the differences are quite profound as well. Let’s not make too much of the simillarities without keeping in mind the differences.

I think that this shows how closely God has created us. I think that we dont’t think of them having morals because we do not fully act on the same level together. But if we think about it they know what is right and what is wrong. If a dog does his/her business in the house they know that it was not the right thing to do.

Thanks, Ev and Jon.  With regard to the differences between humans and nonhumans, I struggle to see how the differences are finally a difference in basic kind.  Surely the differences in degree are HUGE. 

I’m still working on this issue…

It seems to me that any “moral agent” can only be held accountable to the degree that it is able to reason the best moral choice.  In other words, to those who are given much, much is required.

I agree, Jamie.  And that’s why I think that although nonhuman animals may make moral decisions, their culpability is constrained by the degree they can reason about their choices.  I doubt worms do much reasoning.  But I’m confident that dogs, dolphins, and chimps can reason.

Animals uniquely mediate to me the mystery of God’s love and creativity.  They are gifts of God, part of our common life on this planet.  We share the same stuff of creation they have, the “dust” as Genesis puts it.  Because they come from God and are beloved to God, and because they are vulnerable to our exploitation, I believe we have a moral obligation to honor and care for animal life, and when we harvest animals for food, to do so in as humane and responsible a way as possible.  We have much to learn from Native American traditions in regard to how we relate to animals.

Just as scripture can be used for selfish means, Darwin can take information concerning, “The close similarity between man and the lower animals,” and create a theory that pleases his personal agenda. Perspective has everything to do with outcomes.
Whereas I may look at the similarities between humans and non-humans and see a common creator, Darwin may see a common ancestor… Information that we receive is constantly filtered through a sort of cognitive sieve allowing ideas that we agree with to more easily pass through than those that we do not.

I think there are definitly similarities between animals and humans, but there are differences as well. God says to love others, but I think that doesn’t just single it down to humans. God made all living creatures for a purpose some we may not understand. But we all do offer something.