Morality -- To some degree genetic?

[Coito ergo sum]

If you have any experience of babies you’d be forgiven for thinking of them as entirely selfish, self-oriented little beasts with scant regard for others. It has long been thought that children are born amoral and that it is the job of their culture to teach them the difference between good and bad. However, studies with very young babies suggest that they might be much nicer than we previously thought.

For instance, babies seem to empathize with the distress of others - crying in response to the cries of other babies and stroking or offering toys to those who seem to be upset. Babies also spontaneously help strangers who are struggling. When experimenters acted out a range of troublesome scenarios such as trying to open a cupboard with their hands full or straining to reach a dropped peg - 1-year-olds came rushing to their assistance, sometimes traversing extensive obstacles to do so. And it's not just that babies happen to like picking up dropped pegs. If the experimenter was straining to reach a peg that they had deliberately thrown down, rather than accidentally dropped, babies didn’t come to their rescue.

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013 ... moral-life

[Tyrannical]

Human behavior and intelligence are greatly affected by genetics, especially as we mature from child hood.

[pErvinalia]

Human behavior and intelligence are greatly affected by genetics, especially as we mature from child hood.

I thought human behaviour and intelligence are greatly affected by skin colour.

[cronus]

Babies might be moral but a brief survey of human history and behaviour informs that it seldom lasts into adulthood. Probably a instinctual ruse to portray vulnerable tots as little angels for survival advantages. Yeah, extreme do-gooderism.....seen only in babies and yanks.....beware in both cases, it doesn't last.

[Audley Strange]

If you have any experience of babies you’d be forgiven for thinking of them as entirely selfish, self-oriented little beasts with scant regard for others. It has long been thought that children are born amoral and that it is the job of their culture to teach them the difference between good and bad. However, studies with very young babies suggest that they might be much nicer than we previously thought.

For instance, babies seem to empathize with the distress of others - crying in response to the cries of other babies and stroking or offering toys to those who seem to be upset. Babies also spontaneously help strangers who are struggling. When experimenters acted out a range of troublesome scenarios such as trying to open a cupboard with their hands full or straining to reach a dropped peg - 1-year-olds came rushing to their assistance, sometimes traversing extensive obstacles to do so. And it's not just that babies happen to like picking up dropped pegs. If the experimenter was straining to reach a peg that they had deliberately thrown down, rather than accidentally dropped, babies didn’t come to their rescue.

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013 ... moral-life

They seem to do they? Could be a strategic attempt to shut up the competition since they could be really greedy for attention, which might also explain why they seem so helpful "Look at me I'm WORTH feeding!" Kids need to learn survival tactics fast, since they are so useless for the first few years and considering I think that all altruism comes from self interest, why should they be different.

Also the article seems muddled. Babies tended to be a term commonly used to refer to children under 12 months with toddler being used for the next 18 months, has that changed? Also does very young" in conjunction with babies not imply neo-nates?

I Still don't buy that morality is anything more than a word used by religions to describe behaviours and attitudes that were permitted and forbidden. We may have a behavioural propensity towards not being arrogant blood thirsty sociopaths, but that is not because some twat with a beard and a magic stick claimed it "good". Also this sort of "genetic morality" thing gets too close to the "original sin" or "unter-mensch" mentalities.