Reversing the view of 'people born bad'

Biological studies have increasingly erased the notion that humans are a formidable, fierce and brutal species.

A leading scientist of the behavior of primates has declared so in a large scientific seminar held earlier this week, with the participation of delegates from 50 countries.

"People are very much in favor of society," said Frans de Waal, a biologist at Emory University in Atlanta, USA, during the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Wal also said that the new study on higher animals, from primates, to elephants and even mice, suggests they have biological foundations for collaborative behaviors.

Until 12 years ago, the general view of scientists was that humans were "evil" core species, but developed a layer of morality that wrapped around it, even though the coat was very thin.

This point of view dates back to the 19th century, when biologist Thomas Henry Huxley said that morality is not in nature but is created by humans.

But Wal's research rejected this. He also said that the wrong view of human morality does not receive support from Charles Darwin, the father of evolution.

De Waal showed the audience many videos recorded in the laboratory showing that a monkey showed many different emotions when not eating delicious food like his nearby; a snake removed the chocolate to help another snake escape the trap.

These studies show that animals in nature also have social supportive traits that follow criteria such as "concessions, fairness, empathy and comfort". "Human morality will not appear without empathy," Waal said.

When asked whether empowerment becomes a natural formation trait that has changed competition intensely, in which economic and political capitalist systems have been built up, Waal has sarcastically responded. : "I'm just a monkey observer".

But he told reporters that the study also showed that animals showed sympathy for the animals that they found familiar "in their groups" and that the natural tendency was a challenge in a world. people have become globalized.

He said that "morality" has evolved among people living in small communities, while adding: "It is a challenge . it is a test for humans when applying a system which is only for internal groups worldwide. "