Quote from tikipoki:
Cutten, for all I know, no animal would kill itself out of free will for another animal, and wont sacrifice anything unless they benefit from it themselves (like keeping the wolfpack big so they have more power).
A tigress giving its life in protecting its young, in the face of hopeless odds?
Yes, I agreed that while she is alive she 'emotionally benefits' from the idea that her offspring will survive, but I think it also qualifies as a case of 'altruism' in the sense that the action wasn't motivated purely by self-interest only (she had the cubs' interests in mind too).
I think this is common behavior in various animal groups, including our 'cousins' the apes, monkeys etc. (But I'm no expert on any of this stuff. Complete idiot, actually.)
As for morals, it's too involving a debate. One I can't be bothered with. However, it's my position (and experience) that through discourse people with wildly differing moral positions can come to (general) agreements on 'right' and 'wrong'. And that wanting to do 'right' and feeling bad for having done 'wrong' are innate aspects of humanity; not 'taught'.
