conscience

[13'sbadkitty]

i am currently reading a book on animal behavior, specifically communication. Long term studies of all highly aggressive social species (humans included ) show that cooperation is needed with the AMOUNT of conspecifics needed to feed and reproduce. Aggression to the the extent that it becomes pathological or injurious can not only kill individuals but clans or packs. If you can't cooperate, you can't protect a territory, you can't survive either through starvation or injury. Too large a population has the effect of starving itself as well. The rules and the ability to follow them, as dictated by the society of that individual results in death. I don't know that without a conscience protecting the weak has any merit at all in a natural society, it doesn't in the wild. Until recently our societies left mentally ill to die, mentally retarded or handicapped to die and wasn't so great to sick and old. Children were also considered the property of the males and could be killed if the head male felt like it without having to explain it. Women also. Either conscience is developing as we develop or who we have conscience for or about have grown as our species have grown.

[thir]

The rules and the ability to follow them, as dictated by the society of that individual results in death.

I did not understand that.

I don't know that without a conscience protecting the weak has any merit at all in a natural society, it doesn't in the wild.

I am not quite with you here.

Until recently our societies left mentally ill to die, mentally retarded or handicapped to die and wasn't so great to sick and old. Children were also considered the property of the males and could be killed if the head male felt like it without having to explain it. Women also.

I am not sure when or where we talking about here.

Either conscience is developing as we develop or who we have conscience for or about have grown as our species have grown.

I think it is useful to see this in terms of human history, which is after all some couple of million years old.
As Leo9 said, there is evidence that the tribes took care of their sick and young, and that, to me, is simply common sense in terms of survival for all.