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New Theories / Re: The science of law?
« on: 26/07/2017 07:15:15 »
The pure science that is closest to law is sociology. This science deals with studying behaviors and thoughts in the context of group dynamics. Government is a subject of particular interest in sociological study. The very ideas of morality and ethics come under scrutiny and study. The most common theories about law and morality often cite our evolutionary history. The most influential aspect of that history is demonstrably the social nature of humans. The "pack" or "tribe" structures in our evolutionary history have several other analogues in the animal kingdom. Most notably these include elephants, apes, and dolphins. Various experiments have tested whether animals in these groups have "ethics", primarily elephants and apes.
Capuchin monkeys (though they aren't apes) also have a similar social structure.
This video documents an experiment designed to show the idea of "equity" or fairness. This is an idea we often take for granted as being "programmed" into people at birth, and relates back to a sense of empathy. One monkey sees the other one being treated differently and is indignant at the unfairness of the situation. He responds by rejecting his "payment". We could easily see a person getting paid $10 for a job get angry when he learns that his coworker gets paid $20 for the same job.
Dr. Frans de Waal also does quite a bit of research on this topic. http://www.pnas.org/content/110/6/2070.full is but one of his published papers documenting experiments on the subject.
The established body of science on the topic suggests that high intelligence corresponds to highly social creatures (possibly because more complex interactions become necessary), and that highly social creatures almost always display a well-developed sense of morality and ethics. Further, the ethics and morality displayed often coincides with our own ideas about fairness and morals. This suggests that the systems of morals and ethics are evolved/developed as a way to help the animals create more effective groups where group interactions are important for survival.
Capuchin monkeys (though they aren't apes) also have a similar social structure.
This video documents an experiment designed to show the idea of "equity" or fairness. This is an idea we often take for granted as being "programmed" into people at birth, and relates back to a sense of empathy. One monkey sees the other one being treated differently and is indignant at the unfairness of the situation. He responds by rejecting his "payment". We could easily see a person getting paid $10 for a job get angry when he learns that his coworker gets paid $20 for the same job.
Dr. Frans de Waal also does quite a bit of research on this topic. http://www.pnas.org/content/110/6/2070.full is but one of his published papers documenting experiments on the subject.
The established body of science on the topic suggests that high intelligence corresponds to highly social creatures (possibly because more complex interactions become necessary), and that highly social creatures almost always display a well-developed sense of morality and ethics. Further, the ethics and morality displayed often coincides with our own ideas about fairness and morals. This suggests that the systems of morals and ethics are evolved/developed as a way to help the animals create more effective groups where group interactions are important for survival.