Is Morality a Result of Evolution? Study Shows Biological Roots of Moral Decisions

Two days after the New York Times Science section published a discussion earlier this week on apparent morality in primates and how it is reshaping some philosopher's views of their field, reports are discussing an article published Wednesday in the journal Nature in which the origin of a very similar effect in humans has been located, in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPC) of the brain.

The key difference between the primate discussion and the human experiments is the involvement of reason. The experiments involved subjects with varying states of health of their brains, with some having damage to the VMPC. In the experiments, subjects were presented with moral dilemmas which involved sacrificing one human life for the good of a number of others, such as pushing an individual off a train track to protect others, or killing an AIDS carrier who was planning to infect others.

Results of the experiments showed that subjects with damage to their VMPC were more likely to make choices than involved personally harming another human being, while those without damage to the VMPC refused or were reluctant. The experimenters characterized the difference as being the result of the VMPC's effect on compassion, shame and guilt.

Articles reporting the study from CBS News and the CBC in Canada noted that the subjects with specific damage in this area were not considered "immoral," but that, as in the New York Times article discussing primates, the effect of this part of the brain is where the origins of a moral instinct are found. Humans have developed beyond this instinctive behavior, and the Times article presents a case for the development of conscious moral systems such as religion based on the guidance of specific biological principles.

The Times article credits biologist E.O. Wilson with suggesting that these biological origins should be found, in his writings in 1975. Two more recent researchers have laid the ground for these discoveries, as evolutionary biologist Marc Hauser of Harvard proposed in his recent book "Moral Minds" that structures similar to those that allow us to learn language would also be found to guide moral learning. Meanwhile, the author of "Primates and Philosophers," primatologist Frans de Waal, has put forth his observations of behavior in primates similar to that controlled by the VMPC in the just-published study.

While the subjects with damaged VMPC areas could follow social guidance, according to a researcher quoted by the CBC, "they lack empathy and compassion." The CBC article notes that, while the researchers believe that human nature is biologically determined to be more than utilitarian and involves following the guidance of empathy and compassion, including an inborn aversion to harming others, further experiments will help to identify the specific guidance which biological nature provides.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/20/science/20moral.html?ex=1332043200&en=84f902cc81da9173&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/21/health/webmd/main2594763.shtml

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/03/22/science-morality.html