AVOIDING THE PSEUDOSCIENTIFIC: NORMS The term is “Norm”. The basis of all moral

AVOIDING THE PSEUDOSCIENTIFIC: NORMS

The term is “Norm”.

The basis of all moral intuition is the evolutionary requirement that cooperation is only beneficial if it is non-parasitic and mutually productive. So we prohibit free riding (parasitism) on the one hand, and mandate payment of insurance (charity) on the other, and within very near kin, we sacrifice.

From this simple and necessary instinct, all moral (cooperative) norms evolve.

Manners (signaling potential), ethics (interpersonal prohibitions), moral (anonymous prohibitions), Myths and Rituals (intergenerational transmission) evolve.

Meanwhile we compete using signals. If we are successful in universalism we develop castes, if we are successful in familialism we develop families. In no case do we develop equality except within caste or family.

We evolved cooperation. So cooperation must be more valuable than predation. It is only more valuable (for the strong) if it is non-parasitic and productive. For the weak, parasitism is a necessary evolutionary strategy. But status signals can be bought cheaply in times of asymmetric prosperity. And we can see the 20th century as an experiment in signals.

Painful. Rational. Scientific.