Animal Morality and its Discontents

TUT 100 - Virtue in Animal and Machine - Professor Weinman

1. In Chapter 2, Bekoff and Pierce say

   The basic idea behind the social intelligence hypothesis is that development of social skills drove the evoluation of intelligence, at least among primates. ... Our hypothesis about moral behavior in animals does not require something like the social intelligence hypothesis. (pp. 50-51)

   Select the sentence from today's reading in Chapter 6 that you feel is most closely related. Briefly explain whether your choice supports, denies, or complicates their earlier statement.
2. Bekoff and Pierce suggest four threshold requirements for morality (p. 13). Which of these do you find the least support for among bats in Kerth's article? Briefly explain your reasoning.
3. Briefly (2-4 sentences) frame the argument of the section "Species-relative morality does not equal 'anything goes' morality" in your own language.
4. Select the sentence from today's reading that you found most surprising or provocative. Briefly explain your selection.