The evolution of human morality

Following on yesterday's post about scientists finding antecedents for many human behaviors in species lower on the evolutionary chain, Nicholas Wade has an article in the New York Times today about primate behaviors that may be the basis for human morality:

Though human morality may end in notions of rights and justice and fine ethical distinctions, it begins, Dr. de Waal [of Emory University] says, in concern for others and the understanding of social rules as to how they should be treated. At this lower level, primatologists have shown, there is what they consider to be a sizable overlap between the behavior of people and other social primates.

Social living requires empathy, which is especially evident in chimpanzees, as well as ways of bringing internal hostilities to an end. Every species of ape and monkey has its own protocol for reconciliation after fights, Dr. de Waal has found. If two males fail to make up, female chimpanzees will often bring the rivals together, as if sensing that discord makes their community worse off and more vulnerable to attack by neighbors. Or they will head off a fight by taking stones out of the males’ hands.

Dr. de Waal believes that these actions are undertaken for the greater good of the community, as distinct from person-to-person relationships, and are a significant precursor of morality in human societies.

(I wonder if chimpanzees crank each other? :-)