The Moral Instinct

Definition Morality is a system of complex behaviors which evolved to promote social cohesion and hence contribute to individual survival.

The Moral Instinct Universal innate tool-kit created thru Darwinian selection and modified by cultural and religious influence. Modeled on Chomsky’s universal language. Largely unconscious without conscious reasoning. Emotion first. Reason follows post-hoc. Generally involves issues of harm, fairness and disgust. Damage causes deficit in moral judgment.

Morality

The Moral System Complex interrelationship of somatic sensations, limbic input, and frontal lobe restraint and modification. Unconscious- fast, automatic, limited and involuntary. Conscious: slow, deliberate, wide-ranging and thoughtful.

The Social Imperative Groups survive better than individuals in securing food and in protection from predators. Animals demonstrate mutualism, empathy and cooperative territorialism. A system of complex behaviors evolved to promote social cohesion and hence contribute to individual survival. Cooperation and reciprocity.

Moral v. Social Rules Moral Rules are universal principles with early childhood acquisition that govern welfare and fairness and usually expressed unconsciously. Social Rules govern group coordination which are acquired thru learning and tend to be more relative and less imperative.

Natural Rational Unconscious Orbitofrontal Instinctive Favor those close Active worse than passive Immediate > distant Conscious Dorsolateral frontal Weigh priorities Treat all the same. Consequences important Immediate = distant

Animal Behavior Reciprocity- Food for sex (chimps) Theory of Mind- Concealment and empathy Mutualism but not long-term cooperation. Animals have laser-beam intelligence. Humans have flood-light intelligence i.e. greater flexibility.

Gazzaniga Social and Ethical Modules Reciprocity- fairness and equality Suffering- sympathy Hierarchy – rank and dominance In-group / out-group – identifiable differences Purity – disease defense, virginity

Ethical Modules Universal toolkit. Analogy with language. Intuitive, unconscious, generally uncompromising Emotion first, reason follows Swiss Army knife analogy. Injury (Phineas Gage) Disease ( Frontal Temporal Dementia)

Fairness/Reciprocity Module Social contract: fairness and equality. Cooperation: Virtues- trust, gratitude, respect, admiration, satisfaction. Cheat: guilt, shame, gossip, revenge, contempt, anger. Issues of Distribution. Equality (need) vs. Proportionality (effort)

Harm/Suffering Module Harm condemned with exceptions e.g. self- defense. Intent vs. accident. Sympathy for those in pain, contempt for those who cause pain. Virtues: compassion, empathy, kindness. Conflict- Infanticide, abortion.

In-group / Out-group Module Kin group cohesion ( shared genes) Detection of danger. Identifiable differences –skin color, dress, and accent. Virtues: cooperation, self-sacrifice, loyalty, patriotism, and heroism. Robber’s Cave.

Golden Rule Present in all major religions- a statement of reciprocity. Hamilton’s Rule- Golden Rule is proportional to genetic relatedness.

Disgust/Purity Module Defense against disease. Universal disgust and fear: spoiled foods, body fluids, death, pedophilia Control of genetic certainty-virginity. Powerful, rapid and automatic. Cultural- Stereotypes, language, skin color.

Secrets, Lying and Promises Less rigid and more situationally dependent. Part of the moral toolkit. “ white lies” Intention v. omission Breaking promises for the greater good.

Delayed Gratification Moral support system to control temptation for long term goals. Impulsive behavior leads to social problems: gambling, overeating, sexual promiscuity, alcoholism. Children and cookies- SAT scores, stable marriages. The Marshmallow Experiment. When resources limited, impulsivity may be better.

Trolley Dilemma

Scenarios Principle of intentional battery: forbids unpermitted bodily contact. Principle of foreseen consequences: foreseen bad effects are outweighed by the greater good. Choose kin over non-kin, humans over animals, in-group over foreigners.

Summary Moral actions are judged by unconscious and inaccessible systems. Principles are fixed as to what is forbidden, permissible, and obligatory but the range of behaviors are not limited. Religions and laws do not create moral judgments. They have adopted them. Rationality and utilitarianism do not always prevail.