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Image via: The Three Monkeys

Darwin himself might have raised a bushy eyebrow at the idea that monkeys and apes have a sense of morality and the capacity to tell right from wrong. Such moral qualities have been widely held to be part and parcel of what distinguishes us from our furrier simian relatives – but fresh research implies otherwise. In a series of studies, scientists have found that monkeys and apes can make judgments about fairness, offer sympathy and selfless help to others, and even appear to have consciences and the ability to remember obligations.

Moral questions: has morality evolved and is it unique to humans?

Orangutan photo by: Kabir Bakie

The research indicates that morality has developed through evolution and is not an exclusively human attribute. But if our primate cousins share some of our moral scruples as the findings suggest, it is likely to anger those who believe such traits are God-given and set humans apart, according to reports on the Times Online and Telegraph websites. Frans de Waal, professor of psychology at Emory University, who led the study, said:

“I am not arguing that non-human primates are moral beings but there is enough evidence for the following of social rules to agree that some of the stepping stones towards human morality can be found in other animals.”

It’s not fair: apes object when others are unfairly rewarded

Lar gibbon photo by: Matthias Trautsch

In tests to see whether monkeys and apes understood the idea of fairness, the animals performed a set of tasks and were rewarded at random with food or affection. The researchers discovered that the primates objected acutely when others were rewarded more than themselves for the same task, and even sulked and refused to take further part.

Help! I need somebody: chimpanzees will offer altruistic help

Photo by: Unknown Researcher

Another more encouraging study found that chimpanzees were willing to spontaneously help both humans and one another in controlled tests, even when no reward was offered. This backs up evidence of similar such altruistic behaviour; a key example, cited in a 2007 New York Times article, described chimps who were unable to swim drowning in zoo moats while trying to save others.

The beast that keeps on giving: capuchin monkeys are keen to share

Photo courtesy of: Frans de Waal

Other researchers have discovered comparable qualities in Latin American capuchin monkeys, who are also eager to share food and gifts with companion monkeys – simply so it seems for the pleasure of giving. Related research found that primates can remember and will endeavour to repay individuals who have done them a favour.

Moral backbone: morality and our place in evolution

Image via: Fastfission

These community-focused precursors to human morality seem to point to more of an overlap between the behaviour of humans and other social primates than we previously thought – though influences such as religion and reason would still separate us. Professor de Waal argues that morality came about through natural selection at a time when people living in small foraging groups had to make split second life-or-death decisions that were also moral choices.

Moral fibre: morality as a means of survival for groups of early humans

Diorama photo by: VSmithUK

Some researchers believe our morals developed due to climate change – particularly a period of global warming at least 50,000 years ago when early humans were forced to band together and adapt to survival in hostile plains. Others think communities were compelled to devise moral codes to stop bigger alpha males monopolising the food, and that if anyone went against the rules they and their amoral genes would be disposed of.

Who sees no evil? The three wise monkeys

17th Century Japanese carving photo by: lyss_003

Incidentally, while we usually imagine “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” to mean ignoring the wickedness of something we are involved in, in earlier times it had other meanings. It was a reminder not to let immorality appear in the social actions of looking, listening and chattering. And while we naturally assume the three wise monkeys stand for humans, what if they’re just meant to be monkeys? Perhaps the originators of the proverb knew something we don’t.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

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