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Ma3Ke4Li3 OP t1_isjs5q1 wrote

Abstract: What is the point of morality? Why should Homo sapiens care about moral rules? Philip Kitcher presents a theory that answers these questions. According to Kitcher, morality stems from something “very deep within us”, namely our psychological dispositions to altruism and other kinds of responsiveness to others. These are biological traits that we evolved as social mammals. However, these traits are fragile. They fail too often to form the basis of human social living. Morality is a social technology that was created to solve these “altruism failures”. Initially, moral rules were very rudimentary, such as the rule not to grab food from others. With time, these rules became more complex. Two virtues of the theory should be noted. First, the theory allows objective evaluation of morality without assuming a realm of moral truths. Second, the theory allows morality to make sense within a naturalist and Darwinian view of life, without succumbing to social Darwinism.
[Note: The referenced theory is discussed in the first 21 minutes of the episode. You can also access the episode via Spotify, Apple Pod, Stitcher, Amazon etc.]

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FingerTheCat t1_isl2kn0 wrote

> such as the rule not to grab food from others

Interesting takes on things like this and I'm all for it. One reason IMO that you don't take someone else's food (even if stealing it meant you are fed and continue to live on) is more self preservation. If I take his food he could harm me in retaliation, I don't know how morals play into that. But then again things aren't just black and white.

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peddidas t1_isla9ho wrote

Yeah sure, and maybe it's also like a game theory situation: if you'd take others' food they'd probably start taking yours and it would maybe even become socially acceptable. Without the rule chaos would ensue as everyone would be taking someone else's food, so it's better to not do it.

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