"'I know you, Chee. You're descended from beasts of prey that operated alone, or in minimum-size groups. You get your instincts from that. Your world never knew any such thing as a nation. The idea of universal altruism is unreal to you. Your sense of duty is as strong as mine, maybe stronger, but it stops with your kinfolk and friends.'" (Chapter XXIII, pp. 577-578) (For full reference, see here.)
What is the basis of morality and how might it differ between rational species?
Among human beings, I think that we are naturally selected to help others either because they bear the same genes or because they might help us in return and we experience the latter motivation as moral obligation, not as calculating self-interest, which it sounds like when expressed in biological terms. Also, we are social beings with common interests that transcend a simplistic selfishness-altruism dichotomy. The most basic shared interest is linguistic communication without which we would not be human. Against this, there is xenophobia. However, universal altruism has been formulated in scriptures and philosophies. The Samaritan is our neighbor.
Among Cynthians, apparently, there was never any need to help others outside the small group. Chee Lan's aim is to become so rich that she can return to Cynthia to live in luxury. Cynthian trade routes that have been integrated into the interstellar economy feel no obligation to kick-start those that have not.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
But I think civilized (the philosophic concept, Cynthians didn't have cities), educated, and reflective members of that species would have the intellectual ability to extend or widen that sense of ethical obligation. We do see Cynthia willingly joining the Empire after it arose (with some enlisting in the Imperial arned forces).
Sean
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