Chapter 1: The Question of Animal Morality

When we ponder the question, "Do animals possess morals?", it’s intriguing to realize that the inquiry itself is posed by a being from within the animal kingdom.

The perplexity arises from the fact that it is an animal contemplating what defines the moral compass of its kind. This might stem from the lack of awareness that there are two categories of animals. The "wordless" creatures — not to be confused with those lacking value — are estimated to include between 5 to 7 million species. In contrast, there exists the "wordy" species — which refers solely to humans, of whom there are approximately 9 billion.

Some might argue that our educators and mentors have misled us about these distinctions. However, is it reasonable to lay blame at the feet of our teachers, mentors, and educational institutions? Personally, I find it illogical, especially considering that among the estimated 5 to 7 million animal species, we are the only ones who establish schools for educators, learners, and thought leaders.

But what purpose do these schools serve? Are they merely venues for perpetuating falsehoods? It’s a challenging notion to accept. What do you think?

Upon graduating, one can readily observe that both "wordy" and "wordless" mammals share fundamental traits: they all breathe, consume food, drink, eliminate waste, reproduce, sense their environment, and exhibit behavior. The primary distinction lies in our ability to communicate through language.

Language is the bridge that leads us to discuss animals, while the "wordless" remain silent on the matter. Since morals are articulated through language, it stands to reason that those who lack words might not possess moral frameworks. Conversely, our ability to articulate concepts like morality suggests that we indeed have them.

Key Takeaway:

The answer to "Do animals have morals?" hinges on the type of animal being asked. Thus, the matter is settled.

"What a word means, a sentence cannot say." — Ludwig Wittgenstein

"Using words to talk of words is like using a pencil to draw a picture of itself, on itself." — Patrick Rothfuss

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Written by Beat Schindler

Helping others grasp their essence and origins

Author of The Origin of Humanity, editor of the weekly WORD EXPLOSIONS newsletter

[www.schindlersword.com](http://www.schindlersword.com) | LinkedIn

Chapter 2: Understanding Morality in Animals

In the quest to understand animal ethics, we can look to various perspectives and studies.

This video features Frans de Waal discussing moral behavior in animals, shedding light on their ethical frameworks and social interactions.

The exploration of morality doesn't stop here.

This video dives into whether animals possess a sense of morality, offering insights into their behavioral patterns and ethical decisions.