One factor that clearly sets human beings apart from other living animals is the effect of culture on the behaviour of individuals. Culture evolves around a sense of what is desirable behaviour and what is undesirable. One unfortunate consequence of this more subtle basis for human morality is its Manichaean cast - it can yield behaviour both for good and evil that transcends the capacity of any other animal. The cognitive basis of this higher human morality is simple. We can place ourselves in the position of the 'other' and through the medium of language convince others.
History is cited to demonstrate the cognitive-linguistic basis of human morality.
The Mongols were at one point in history adept at placing themselves in the position of the 'other' and doing whatever was needed to terrify their adversaries into surrender. When the Mongols were converted to Tibetan Buddhism they were converted to the tenets of compassion towards all living creatures. In accordance with these tenets the Mongol leader Kublai Khan founded monasteries, repaired roads, planted shade trees and provided assistance to the old, the orphaned, the sick and infirm and to the poor. Professor Lieberman is a true product of his own thesis that human speech is related to analytical thought. This book is valuable for the presentation of theories and ideas of many eminent linguists and neural experts with a carefully reasoned argument for acceptance or rejection of their proposals.