Theory Design Lab/Evolution and the categorical imperative


This resource is intended for

use in the subject philosophy.

This resource is intended for

use in the subject practical philosophy.

This resource is intended for

use in the subject biology.

Cleaning symbiosis

edit

The cleaner fish can swim into the jaws of fish of prey and is not attacked. The larger fish even spit out the cleaner fish when the fish has finished removing parasites.

Exercises

edit
  • Why do the fish of prey not attack the cleaner fish? Do the two fish have an agreement of any kind? How?
  • Even if the fish had an agreement the larger fish could swallow the tiny cleaner fish when it was no longer required. Large fish are not known for particularly honorable behavior. Swallowing the tiny fish is merely illogical if the categorical imperative is applied: If every fish would swallow cleaner fish then the cleaner fish might die out.
    • Do the fish of prey understand the categorical imperative?
    • If the fish of prey more probably do not understand the categorical imperative then what makes them adhere to the categorical imperative? Isn't that possibly a far reaching wisdom for evolution to convey (e.g. how often had the cleaner fish to die out before all other fish were genetically programmed to spit out the cleaner fish?)


  This resource has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. This applies worldwide. You are advised to consider the possibility of extraterrestrial intellectual property rights claims that do require mentoring duties in compensation ("either mentoring or trouble with extraterrestrials").

Content released into the public domain may be used for any purpose without attribution, including commercial activities and creation of derivative works.

The content is provided without any warranties of fitness for a particular purpose or suitability for pupils in a specific grade.