Paul’s Blog

Chimps have been observed by many to try and increase their social status/rank through service to others in the clan. Is it prejudiced to believe we are morally superior to primates who express such a phenotype less, who have been less successful reproductively (presumably due to lack of organizational effectiveness and cooperation).

Geneticists (in the last 2 years) have discovered several genes and cofactors which are believed to strongly correlate to intelligence.  Instantly, all the “educated racists” rejoiced, because they felt they would finally be vindicated.  They love to make claims about the validity (now in doubt), about intelligence measures between the races.  They are prone to make claims about how African American slaves were bread to be not-too-smart (politically and philosophically at least), strong, and obedient.

However, no person not mentally ill would believe that children (or persons with mental disability) are morally inferior simply because they are less intelligent.  Even if there are differences in certain types of intelligence between certain races, this is not an argument in favor of moral racism.  Although some atheistic (or even some ignorant religious racists) believe that intellectual differences between races, constitutes a significant case for whole race inferiority, most philosophers (and scientists for that matter) would not accept such a value statement.  Although in practice, natural (or material) value is placed on such shallow and temporary variations, the very definition of value throughout history has been a matter of determination of what is most important, and that has always been the moral good.

In fact, many atheists do believe in a system of ethics which is pro-social and altruistic in nature.  All such mature people would naturally (if they are enlightened even slightly) have a tendency to judge others based on the quality of their character and whatever virtues they live by, rather than on superficial (and largely accidental) characteristics such as skin tone, body shape, financial net worth, intelligence.  Thus, it is of no consequence if the new intelligence genes and cofactors are being found to exist unequally in persons of different ethnic (actually geographic) descent.  As we all know, smart people are just as likely to be morally repugnant and evil as stupid people.  Intelligence (just like body shape, hair color, etc.) has very little to do with morality, I personally think.

But what if scientists are able to locate genes and cofactors related to altruism?  I think the average scientist will agree that aggression can be expressed in positive or negative ways — such as high contact sports, or in certain professions meant to protect others, etc..  We have known for decades now (for instance, by extrapolating from large subject samples of identical twins raised apart) that many of the aspects of a human personality (the big 5) are genetically determined to some degree.  But again, those personality factors (like intelligence) have been assumed to have little to do with moral character, and this is especially true if you have reserved some hope or faith in a “free will”.  However, if there is a gene for altruism (or some related construct) would that somehow confer moral superiority?  Isn’t that racist?  For that matter, what need have we anymore for a belief in “free will” if our moral inclinations are largely determined by genetics?