Comment by Allen Sneed on February 23, 2010 at 9:24pm

It is very interesting. I remember reading about the Milgram experiment in college. I also read about a similar study done on monkeys. I lazily looked it up online and found the following reference to the experiment from Carl Sagan's Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors. I am sure a more thorough search would reveal the actual study.

"In a laboratory setting, macaques were fed if they were willing to pull a chain and electrically shock an unrelated macaque whose agony was in plain view through a one-way mirror. Otherwise, they starved. After learning the ropes, the monkeys frequently refused to pull the chain; in one experiment only 13% would do so – 87% preferred to go hungry. One macaque went without food for nearly two weeks rather than hurt its fellow. Macaques who had themselves been shocked in previous experiments were even less willing to pull the chain."

Comment by Mario Rodgers on February 23, 2010 at 9:34pm

So irreligious macaques have more morality than religious human beings?

Comment by Skycomet the Fallen Angel on February 23, 2010 at 10:48pm

Apparently.

Comment by Michel-san on February 23, 2010 at 11:05pm

Wow! When the guy said he had a heart condition that should have made people think. Everyone has a moral obligation to act responsibly and make rational judgements in a potentially dangerous situation - in that situation it would mean stopping.

Morality aside, a test subject should have some thought to the law. If the experiment was real, and the person being shocked died - particularly toward the latter end of the experiment - it could be classed as criminal negligence. Faced with a potential jail sentence or at the very least criminal proceedings any rational person would stop at the first sign of health risk.

I think this demonstrates not only a lack of morality amongst people, but also a lack of rationality in judging their responsibilities within the law.

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