A lack of accountability

I am persuaded by studies in the fields of anthropology, primatology, and ethno-psychology that behavior such as empathy, sympathy, compassion, and morality are instinctual, not learned.

Morality predates humanity, and can be seen in the behavior of our closest living genetic relatives, the chimps and bonobos. These traits developed as a survival tactic in communities that hunted animals. Reciproci y and the golden rule increased chances of survival in a tribal setting. The key element to making this system work was accountability. If you did not play by the rules, you were easily identified and ostracized – a death sentence.

As I see it, the real issue in our present culture appears to be the lack of accountability, which allows many to get away with antisocial behavior without consequences. While I am not a fan of a bloated government, one of their roles should be to enforce accountability through the legal system. Pass laws that criminalize immoral behavior, and permit corporate employees to be held personally accountable. Jail sentences might be the modern equivalent of tribal rejection.

For research and touching stories of empathy in the wild, I recommend The Age of Empathy and Primates and Philosophers by Frans de Waal, a prominent primatologist.

As outlined in The Wellness Project, the field of zoopharmacognosy (animal self healing) has persuaded me that wellness-supporting behavior is also instinctual, but has been distorted by our modern concept of health care.