Biomaterial Database

[Ethological analysis of behavior and the emergence of ethics]. 1994

G Thinès

Université de Louvain, Membre de l'Académie Royale des Sciences.

The problem of the emergence of ethical conduct is considered in the perspective of the neo-darwinian scheme and thus of the survival value of actions complying to this definition. After a brief recall of basic ethological principles, the applications of the cultural character to certain behaviour patterns of primates is analysed and introduces the concept of value. The emergence of symbolic and reflexible language in the course of the evolution of the ancestors of Homo sapiens is discussed. The ethical order is defined as a code liable to qualify actions which were originally programmed. The consequences of this duality of codes governing a same action are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007802	Language	A verbal or nonverbal means of communicating ideas or feelings.	Dialect,Dialects,Languages
D011323	Primates	An order of mammals consisting of more than 300 species that include LEMURS; LORISIDAE; TARSIERS; MONKEYS; and HOMINIDS. They are characterized by a relatively large brain when compared with other terrestrial mammals, forward-facing eyes, the presence of a CALCARINE SULCUS, and specialized MECHANORECEPTORS in the hands and feet which allow the perception of light touch.	Primate
D003469	Culture	A collective expression for all behavior patterns acquired and socially transmitted through symbols. Culture includes customs, traditions, and language.	Cultural Relativism,Customs,Beliefs,Cultural Background,Background, Cultural,Backgrounds, Cultural,Belief,Cultural Backgrounds,Cultural Relativisms,Cultures,Relativism, Cultural,Relativisms, Cultural
D004989	Ethics	The philosophy or code pertaining to what is ideal in human character and conduct. Also, the field of study dealing with the principles of morality.	Egoism,Ethical Issues,Metaethics,Moral Policy,Natural Law,Situational Ethics,Ethical Issue,Ethics, Situational,Issue, Ethical,Issues, Ethical,Law, Natural,Laws, Natural,Moral Policies,Natural Laws,Policies, Moral,Policy, Moral
D005010	Ethology	The discipline pertaining to the study of animal behavior.
D005075	Biological Evolution	The process of cumulative change over successive generations through which organisms acquire their distinguishing morphological and physiological characteristics.	Evolution, Biological
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001522	Behavior, Animal	The observable response an animal makes to any situation.	Autotomy Animal,Animal Behavior,Animal Behaviors
D012919	Social Behavior	Any behavior caused by or affecting another individual or group usually of the same species.	Sociality,Behavior, Social,Behaviors, Social,Social Behaviors