Morality based on cognition in primates

Traditional evolutionary biology views animal behaviour as based on instinc ts that leave no room for deliberated morality. In their informative essay, Jessica Flack and Frans de Waal (2000) provide convincing evidence that mo nkeys and, even more so, apes often cognitively perceive the physical and e motional needs of others and that they try to help others, e.g. by consolat ion or sharing food. We mainly discuss aspects neglected by Flack and de Wa al, such as how (im)morality can be clearly defined and whether it evolves genetically or culturally.