著者

田中 泉吏 内井 惣七

出版者

日本基礎心理学会

雑誌

基礎心理学研究 (ISSN:02877651)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.23, no.2, pp.213-217, 2005

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How should we approach to the origins of morality? How should we analyse the moral emotions? Recent researches in animal psychology seem to throw some light on these questions. According to Brosnan & de Waal, the brown capuchin monkey (Cebus apella) has a 'sense of fairness.' As Darwin thought, morality is supported by social emotions, which not only humans but also other primates should have. Then, in order to answer the preceding questions, we have to pay enough attention to the emotional responses of nonhuman primates in social contexts as well as those of humans. In addition, we should not neglect the conceptual analysis of morality and moral emotions, because morality consists of various components. In this regard, J.S. Mill's analysis of 'justice' in Utilitarianism may be regarded as a good example. We will state a brief prospect of the "evolutionary ethics."