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OK David, my mistake (we all make them as we are human) - there is a CONNECTION...although I'm sure there are examples "where one has led to the next"...

I can't say I disagree with most of what you have just said Shine.


Perhaps I should re-define the word "obsolete" :


"Obsolete" in the sense that, although certain ideas may be accepted (& prevail) in the popular culture (eg Moral Relativism), they are "obsolete" because other ideas are 'better' for humanity's survival (eg Moral Realism).


Animals show morality too.
So your whole theory is entirely debunked.
Humans are animals.
Dawkins is right.

Anathema, show me an animal who can read this thread, understand it, and then contribute to it.


By reading the sentence above, and passing judgement on it, I contend we are already exercising our Moral Instinct (through human language) - whether aware of it or not.


This website itself, books, TV, radio etc could never be possible, without this Instinct - which is unique to human beings.


Lucy, our dog on my lap as I (try) to write this, doesn't understand what I've just written - she acts instinctively, not morally.

How in Dog's name does being able to read have anything to do with morality?
"There may be a parallel relation between the moral structure of human life, and the grammatical structure of human language" 

In proper context..

Liangkang Ni (2009). Moral Instinct and Moral Judgment. Frontiers of Philosophy in China 4 (2):238-250.

Human beings’ moral life can be divided into two forms, one based on moral instincts and the other on moral judgments. The former is carried on without deliberation, while the latter relies upon valuations and judgments. The two can ultimately be viewed as man’s innate moral nature and acquired moral conventions. Theoretically, preference for the former will lead to naturalism and for the latter to culturalism, but this is the reality of man’s moral life. Moreover, there may be a parallel relation between the moral structure of human life and the grammatical structure of human language.
Thanks Albert

Considering that the proper context negates your point, your thanks may be premature.


The quote is saying that moral instincts (which is what you are going on about) is innate and the second comes from acquired convictions, such as cultural values (the morals that you are saying do not exist). It's hardly evidence that huamans are the only moral creature to say that our morals shape our language and our language can shape our morals.




Even if the moral structure of human life is somehow linked to the structure of our language it doesn't mean other animals lack morality. Studies have shown that many other species show moral behaviors and seem to operate under their own moral code.


Here are a couple books on the studies showing moral behaviors in non-human animals.


and an article on the subject:



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