A Case for Inherent Morality

[Belacqua]

connecting the dots between morality and prosocial behavior differently

OK, I'm starting to see how this might work. 

The babies see actions in two puppets, and they are capable of determining which action is helpful and which isn't. This apparently would have to involve some ability to recognize goals, because the helpful puppet had to help toward some end. "We do X to get Y." and "This guy can pitch in to help get Y." 

Then the baby determined that the helpful puppet is the better one to have around. 

I still don't see the baby's action as moral. It could just as easily be pure self-interest. ("I want that puppet around in case I ever want Y.") But the fact that he could interpret something as helpful is a necessary step toward understanding morality. 

We might say that prior to this, a baby only knows good and bad FOR ME. (Which earlier I was careful to write as pleasing/displeasing.) But seeing helpful behavior would increase his knowledge to include good and bad FOR SOME END. This is still not morality as I define it, but it would be a necessary component.