Re: Objective standards of conduct [was Re: Dyson (Was: Paths to

Dick.Gray@bull.com
Tue, 12 Jan 1999 09:17:06 -0700

Me:
>You might want to check out some recent work in the field of ethology (the
>science of animal behavior). All social animals tend to avoid "antisocial"
>behavior, as those who don't, tend to find their lineages weeded out of
the
>gene pool.

Samael:
>You know, I could have sworn that I read an article in New Scientist over
>the last few months that found that infidelity was extremely high in
>animals, who try as hard as possible not to get caught.

Depends on what you call "infidelity". Some species are promiscuous, others mate for life. In those species where promiscuity is the norm, it's perfectly "acceptable" behavior. Promiscuity is not infidelity, since no long-term bond of trust is expected. Individuals of species with a tradition of "marriage" OTOH are seldom observed to violate the bond--and those who practice infidelity often face sanctions.

Dick