ABSTRACT
The animal follows the prevailing biological tendency that is activated at a particular moment. It does not base its conduct on insight or reason. The situation in humans is fundamentally different. Man can behave appropriately on the basis of biological drives, but he also has the capacity to behave on the basis of rational, moral principles. The relationship between inclination and rational morality was described by Konrad Lorenz using group defense as an example. Thus, self-control is often esteemed as outstanding moral behavior, as when a man sacrifices himself for his people, placing group interests above those of the family. This process can lead to a perversion of morals. In his monograph on "Moral and Hypermoral," Arnold Gehlen makes the point that the behavior of males and females is determined by the emphasis on different aspects of familial values.
