Concept/Content |
defining morality / nest parasitism: reed warbler feeds cuckoo chick in its nest |
Information caption |
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Inquiry caption |
How do we define scientifically which behaviors are moral? For example, here a reed warlber feeds a cuckoo chick that has parasitized its nest. Was it "wrong" for the cuckoo's parent to lay its egg in the reed warbler's nest? How do we characterize whether this is a moral question or not?
Perhaps you can suggest a scientific definition of moral behavior? How do we ensure that any such definition does not express a value judgment or introduce bias?
[Follow-up:] Who studies and conventionally defines morality (in a professional sense)? How might one borrow or make use of their expertise?
Target Concept: Biologists borrow from other disciplines in characterizing behavior as moral. |
Photographer |
H. Olsen |
Credit |
public domain [wikipedia] |
SIZE in pixels [file size] |
426x600 |