“From Meerkats’ fair play to Naked mole-rat’s monarchy: Uncovering the curious and diverse ways animals live by their morals”
When it comes to animal behavior, there’s one thing that’s for sure: animals have morals too! But what exactly do we mean by “morals” when it comes to animals? Well, just like humans, animals have a set of rules or principles that they live by. These rules help them to survive and thrive in their environment.
But let’s be real, animals don’t exactly sit around discussing the virtues of honesty and compassion (at least not that we know of). So how do they learn and follow these morals? Well, it all starts with their instincts.
You see, animals are born with certain instincts that help them to survive. For example, baby birds instinctively know how to peck at food, and baby deer know how to stand on their own legs right after they’re born. These instincts are like the animal version of a moral compass, guiding them on what to do in certain situations.
But what about more complex morals, like cooperation and fairness? Well, just like humans, animals learn these morals through experience. For example, a group of meerkats will learn to take turns keeping watch for predators, so that no one meerkat has to do it all the time. This is an example of cooperation and fairness in action.
But not all animals play nice, and some animals have morals that are a bit more “flexible” than others. Take the praying mantis, for example. These insects are known for their cannibalistic tendencies, and will often eat their mate after mating. Now, that’s not exactly what most of us would consider a moral behavior, but it’s just the way things are in the praying mantis world.
But it’s not just the “bad” animals that have flexible morals. Even animals that we consider to be cute and cuddly can have a bit of a dark side. Take the penguin, for example. These birds are known for their adorable waddle and devotion to their partners, but they also have been known to steal rocks from other penguins to build their nests.
But, let’s face it, not all animals are created equal, and some are just plain weird. Take the naked mole-rat, for example. These underground dwellers live in colonies with a queen who rules over all the other naked mole-rats. The queen is the only one who gets to mate and have babies, while the rest of the colony is left to do all the work. Talk about a lack of fair play and democracy!
So, as you can see, animals have morals too, and just like humans, they learn and follow these morals in their own unique ways. Whether it’s through instincts, experience, or just plain weird behavior, animals have a set of rules that they live by. And isn’t that something to think about next time you’re watching a cute animal video?
In conclusion, animals have a set of rules and principles that guide them to survive and thrive in their environment. These rules are learned through instincts and experiences, and while some animals have morals that align with human’s, others have different morals that may not be suitable for us. But, whatever morals they have, they play an important role in their survival and their ability to thrive in their environment.
Recomended reading: Frans de Waal: Primates and Philosophers: How Morality Evolved
