Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center

The Newsroom

http://www.emory.edu:80/YERKES/NEWSROOM/dewaal.html

August 30, 1996

The Evolution of Morality

Is human nature fundamentally selfish or fundamentally noble? It is both, claims Dr. Frans de Waal, Research Professor of Psychobiology at Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center and Professor of Psychology at Emory University. Through his work with primates, Dr. de Waal illustrates the concept that morality is not merely man's cultural invention, but a product of millions of years of evolution.

Dr. de Waal describes his observations in his most recent book, Good Natured: Origins of Right and Wrong in Humans and Other Animals. Many of the roots of human behavior can be traced to our primate heritage, says Dr. de Waal, a Dutch-born zoologist and ethologist. He suggests that basic ethical behavior -- helping one who is hurt, feeding one who is hungry -- is not unique to humans. Animals are compelled, perhaps by their own code of ethics, to respond to social rules, to help each other, to share food and resolve conflict to mutual satisfaction. Thus, the natural world involves not merely survival of the fittest -- but survival through cooperation and mutual assistance.

In fact, de Waal says, natural selection has produced some highly cooperative species. He cites examples: a female chimpanzee shares food with a juvenile not related to her; a herd of African elephants tries to revive a young female dying from a poacher's bullet, then spreads earth and branches over the body before leaving it; a group of dolphins supports an injured companion at the water's surface to prevent it from drowning. Dr. de Waal sees in this cooperative behavior the evolutionary roots of human moral systems -- the need for social order, sympathy, empathy, justice and peace.

"What is interesting to contemplate is, when animals help another, do they understand exactly what the situation is and then adjust their help to whatever the other individual needs? I do think chimpanzees have the capacity for empathy, for understanding what some else feels or needs," says Dr. de Waal.

Dr. de Waal's insights bring us face to face with the profound paradox that genetic self-advancement at the expense of others -- which is the basic thrust of evolution -- has given rise to remarkable capacities for caring and sympathy. "Just as in animals," says de Waal, "for humans, making peace is as natural as making war." This notion creates a more complex picture of the evolution of morality, but an infinitely more inspiring one.

Dr. de Waal has also authored numerous scientific papers and two other award-winning books on primate behavior, Chimpanzee Politics and Peacemaking Among Primates.