The Origin of Moral Behaviour

As part of a general inquiry into the nature of human relations, the following question arises: “Why are we moral?”

The existence of moral standards is no guarantee that people will do the morally correct thing. Why are people good, more often than they are bad? What is it about being moral that gives most people, most of the time, good reason for choosing the moral alternative? What is it about “the right thing to do” that seems to generate in people a motivation to do it? Why do most people, most of the time, choose from all the possible alternatives, an alternative that is moral?

What motivates us to be moral?

Cooperation! Morality helps us control the actions of the individual, to benefit the community. Once humans (or the ancestors of) moved from an independent living to cooperative living, the chances of survival for the individual increased to match the community. We have evolved into this cooperative niche and we cannot survive without each other. Therefore, it is to our advantage to help the community survive because our survival is dependant on the community.

Originally posted by Storm
As part of a general inquiry into the nature of human relations, the following question arises: “Why are we moral?”

The existence of moral standards is no guarantee that people will do the morally correct thing. Why are people good, more often than they are bad? What is it about being moral that gives most people, most of the time, good reason for choosing the moral alternative? What is it about “the right thing to do” that seems to generate in people a motivation to do it? Why do most people, most of the time, choose from all the possible alternatives, an alternative that is moral?

What motivates us to be moral?

I believe selfishness made us to become moral.

I would see morals as certain rules of a group that ensure a good living in that group. Like "You shouldn't kill"...makes sense, cause you don't want to be killed and if you kill someone in that group someone will be mad and yadda, yadda everyone's dead.

Why we nowadays behave moral, I would say is because we are conditioned to believe that some things are right and others wrong and going against such beliefs (however we got them) creates discomfort in us.

Selfish genes
+
kin based altruism
+
imitation
+
meme driving
=
morality

🙂

Broadly speaking, it may well be that those societies which chose immoral behavior were less likely to survive and pass on their memes than moral societies.

Originally posted by Mindship
Broadly speaking, it may well be that those societies which chose immoral behavior were less likely to survive and pass on their memes than moral societies.

😆 So, a "meme" is now a thing. 😆

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
😆 So, a "meme" is now a thing. 😆

Originally posted by Mindship
Well, it's a noun. 😮‍💨

Then what is a Blue Meme?

Originally posted by Storm

What motivates us to be moral?

A conscience

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
Then what is a Blue Meme?

Originally posted by Storm

What motivates us to be moral?

Our general genetic and universal human empathy is the answer.

Despite our differences we humans connect with each other as well as other living creatures.

I think if morality even does exist, it is simply a guideline by which we treat other people. You do not need a God, or higher being to regulate morality, as many religions attempt to have it.

I don't blame them. Our senses of right and wrong differ so greatly, that sometimes the only way for all too agree is for their to be a belief in a higher being who decides what is right and wrong, and the rest follow from there.

We may not be able to determine what is universally right or wrong, but we can all recognize when we make someone happy or miserable. We can all logically recognize when we hurt someone or help them.

To me, morality is simply about how we treat other people. And in my opinion, there is a wrong and right that are absolute. You have no right to harm another person, for whatever reason. In the event of self defense, you have the right to defend yourself. You have the right to ensure your survival, but you do not have the right to disregard another's.

Originally posted by Storm
What motivates us to be moral?

Fear of consequences.

Originally posted by Storm
As part of a general inquiry into the nature of human relations, the following question arises: “Why are we moral?”

The existence of moral standards is no guarantee that people will do the morally correct thing. Why are people good, more often than they are bad? What is it about being moral that gives most people, most of the time, good reason for choosing the moral alternative? What is it about “the right thing to do” that seems to generate in people a motivation to do it? Why do most people, most of the time, choose from all the possible alternatives, an alternative that is moral?

What motivates us to be moral?

As humans(not monkeys)we are able to decide on what is good and what is bad we have free will to do what we want!However when something does come that is not so good we have the power to not do it.
It is self control.jm 😎

Actuallys, if Monkeys can sign, I'm pretty sure its been shown that the demonstrate the ability to tell right from wrong.

I meant as in Creation not being monkeys and then human thing!Sorry about the confusion!got to go.jm

Originally posted by ADarksideJedi
I meant as in Creation not being monkeys and then human thing!Sorry about the confusion!got to go.jm

monkeys show high levels of social morals though

They understand voting, empathy, and have strong altruistic tendencies for their in-group. Hell, they are even able to group problem solve. There is also evidence that primates can pass memes (cultural inheritance units) between one another through imitation. There is also conformity to social norms.

I gotta tell you, drawing the morality line between humans and other primates is pretty arbitrary if you ask me 😉

Well, our good friend Teilhard would say morals come from our evolution in to the noosphere.

But then again, Teilhard is a crazyt bastard and I hate his work.

I believe it's more a learned behavior. Once someone learns the consequences of their actions even to the point of being ostracized and ousted, they quickly learn to conform for their own psychological, physical and emotional well being.

On another note, I don't believe there is really good or evil. There is only what we want to experience and what we don't want to experience. We put labels on them as good or evil. I know it sounds strange, but it's always been subjective. It's personal to each individual. We can look at someone/something and say, "That's evil", and we do believe so, But another might say "No, there is good in it."

It's Polar reasoning that is subjectively personal for our experiencing, learning and thus our choices of what we want to experience. In this learning we can decide what we want to be, or contribute to. Then we can create it.