The Ethicators

"The Ethicators" by Willard Marsh is a science fiction story about aliens from a far-off galaxy who try to give a sense of right and wrong to violent creatures on a newly found planet. These alien missionaries want to help the primitive life forms evolve morally, but this raises tricky questions about what more advanced groups owe to those less developed. The story focuses on a scout ship crew exploring a wild, green, and dangerous planet full of meat-eating animals. Shocked by the planet's brutality, the ship's leader uses a special "Ethics Ray" to boost the planet's moral growth. Through their mission, the crew faces the big differences between their advanced society and the chaotic, basic nature of the planet's life. The story makes us think about what morality really is, implying that ethical ideas can come up even in the most unlikely places, ending with the optimistic view that civilization might one day grow among these primitive beings.