The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #165196 Message #3960939
Posted By: Senoufou
09-Nov-18 - 02:41 PM
Thread Name: BS: Symposium: Exemplary disagreement
Subject: RE: BS: Symposium: Exemplary disagreement
I think a useful word here might be 'altruism'. Maternal instinct, acting for the good of the colony, protecting a herd etc - would this be classified as altruism? I actually don't think so. It's mere instinct.
Altruism (when applied to morality) is self-sacrifice for the good of another, without reference to survival of one's genes or any other benefit to oneself. Pity is another moral stimulus which may give rise to altruistic actions.
I don't believe animals possess this quality.
(Even our cats are selfish little buggers!)