Lesson from the Animal Kingdom

[Guest guest]

It's natural law to show compassion most of the

time, just as all animals only kill for necessity of

survival. But it's also natural law to kill. Lord Krsna and

Rama are on my side on this one. Buddha and Mahavira,

not.

[Guest guest]

<< all animals only kill for necessity of

survival>><br>not really. killing that is not survival based (i

will take the liberty to define that here as killing

to fulfill the need to eat or to defend oneself) is

quite common in many species. killing the offspring of

other males when a new male assumes dominance in a

pack/tribe, killing out of anger (see the wonderful nat'l

geographic show on the interspecies competition that occurs

between lions and hyenas) and even killing for 'sport' or

'fun' (e.g. cats and mice). i would argue that there is

no such thing as a natural law of compassion.

compassion is demonstrated in humans. it seems to be

present, if we correctly interpret their actions, in

elephants, dolphins and many other mammals. but as a law of

nature, no, i don't think there is much in the way of

animal behavior to support that. in most animal examples

of 'human' traits, such as compassion, the trait is

usually expressed only towards others in the immediate

family or pack. not many dogs show compassion toward

orphaned squirrels. not many dolphins help injured turtles

to the safety of shore or show the fish the way out

of the fishing nets. compassion may be a truely

human construct