I've argued that many of what philosophers call moral sentiments can be seen in other species. In chimpanzees … - Frans de Waal

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Again, if the world is destroyed, it must needs either be destroyed according to nature or against nature. Against nature is impossible, for that which is against nature is not stronger than nature. If according to nature, there must be another nature which changes the nature of the world: which does not appear.

Frans de Waal

I've argued that many of what philosophers call moral sentiments can be seen in other species. In chimpanzees and other animals, you see examples of sympathy, empathy, reciprocity, a willingness to follow social rules. Dogs are a good example of a species that have and obey social rules; that's why we like them so much, even though they're large carnivores.

Animal, Dog, Empathy, Large, Reciprocity, Sympathy

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If you are a cooperative animal, you need to watch what you get. If you, or even a whole community, invest in something but then a few individuals receive a much larger return, it's not a good arrangement. If it happens consistently, it's time to look for an arrangement that is more beneficial. That's why we're so sensitive to how rewards are being divided.

Animal, Community, Good, Happens, Return, Sensitive

You should know as much as you can about the human species if you have a hand in designing human society. I'm not saying that you can derive moral rules from nature - that's deriving an ought from an is, as the philosophers say - but you do need to know what kind of animals we are if you want to design a stable society.

Animal, Design, Hands, Moral, Say, Species

Humanity is actually much more cooperative and empathic than [it's] given credit for.

Cooperative, Credit, Given, Humanity

Armies are a purely human invention. Most soldiers who go to war nowadays don't even do it because they're inherently aggressive.

Armies, Army, Invention, Purely, Soldier, War

If you want to design a successful human society, you need to know what kind of animal we are. Are we a social animal or a selfish animal? Do we respond better when we're solitary or living in a group?

Selfish, Successful, Animal, Group, Kind