1 The Evolution of Morality Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

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The Evolution of MoralityThe Evolution of Morality

Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana

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OutlineOutline

Introduction

Problem 1: How could morality be the result of evolution?

The new science of morality


Conclusion

Problem 2: Morality debunked?

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OutlineOutline

IntroductionIntroduction




Conclusion


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Introduction Introduction Evolution and MoralityEvolution and Morality

P1. Human behavior is the result of evolutionary forces

P2. Human beings behave as moral agents

CC: Moral behavior is the result of evolutionary forces

We should be able to explain human moral behavior in terms of evolutionary forces

We should be able to explain human moral behavior in terms of evolutionary forces


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Introduction Introduction Two ProblemsTwo Problems

PROBLEM 1:

P1: The law of evolution is a law of competition

P2: Moral behavior includes seemingly non-competitive behavior – cooperation, altruism, sacrifice

CC: Evolution cannot explain moral behavior

If evolution is a matter of competition, how could moral behavior have been selected?

If evolution is a matter of competition, how could moral behavior have been selected?


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Introduction Introduction Two ProblemsTwo Problems

PROBLEM 2:

P1: Evolution explains human behavior in terms of biological processes which are determined and have no “truth” to them

P2: Moral behavior properly speaking is free and has value only if it based on truths

CC: “If evolution is right, then there is no moral behavior properly speaking”

If moral behavior is the result evolution, is not morality an illusion?

If moral behavior is the result evolution, is not morality an illusion?


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OutlineOutline

Introduction





Conclusion


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How could moral behavior result How could moral behavior result from evolution? from evolution?

PROBLEM 1:

P1: The law of evolution is a law of competition

P2: Moral behavior includes seemingly non-competitive behavior – cooperation, altruism, sacrifice

CC: Evolution cannot explain moral behavior


THREE ANSWERS:

1. Moral behavior as a side effect

2. Biological Altruism

3. Selection of cooperative behavior

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1. Moral behavior as a side effect1. Moral behavior as a side effect

Non-adaptive traits as a side effect:

- The development of the human brain is the result of evolution

- Moral behavior comes as a non-adaptive side effect


Other Examples:

- Nerdy behavior

- Taste for sweets and fats

Moral behavior could be a non-adaptive side effect of the development of the brain

Moral behavior could be a non-adaptive side effect of the development of the brain

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2. Biological Altruism2. Biological Altruism

Biological altruism

- Reciprocal aid

- Kin selection


Other Examples:

- Vervet monkeys’ calls

- Insect colonies

Human moral behavior could be a case of biological altruism

Human moral behavior could be a case of biological altruism

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3. Selection of cooperative behavior3. Selection of cooperative behavior

The Problem: parasites

Prisoner’s dilemma


Simulation type 1:

- Single encounter:

- Best strategy: parasite

- Paradox: both lose in trying to win!

Jones cooperates Jones cheats

Smith cooperates Jones: 3 kidsSmith: 3 kids

Jones: 5 kidsSmith: 0 kid

Smith cheats Jones: 0 kidSmith: 3 kids

Jones: 1 kidSmith: 1 kid

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3. Selection of cooperative behavior3. Selection of cooperative behavior

Simulation type 2:

- Repeated encounters

- Memory of past encounters

- Best strategy: “tit for tat”


Cooperative behavior selected in the long run

Cooperative behavior selected in the long run

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How could moral behavior result How could moral behavior result from evolution? -- Conclusion from evolution? -- Conclusion

PROBLEM 1:If the law of evolution is a law of competition,

could moral behavior, including cooperation, altruism and sacrifice, be selected?

ANSWER: Of course it could! Cooperative behavior, altruism and sacrifice

can be the most competitive behavior in certain environments.

PROBLEM 1:If the law of evolution is a law of competition,

could moral behavior, including cooperation, altruism and sacrifice, be selected?

ANSWER: Of course it could! Cooperative behavior, altruism and sacrifice

can be the most competitive behavior in certain environments.


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OutlineOutline

Introduction


The new science of morality The new science of morality


Conclusion


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The New Science of MoralityThe New Science of Morality

The Moral Sense Test

- Harvard University

- More than 300,000 subjects

- All background: religion, age, culture, education


How do humans decide what is right and wrong?

How do humans decide what is right and wrong?

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The New Science of MoralityThe New Science of MoralityThe Trolley ProblemThe Trolley Problem


Situation 1: Is it morally permissible to pull the switch?

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Situation 2: Is it morally permissible to push the fat guy?

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Results:

- Two situations similar from a rational point of view

- But people’s choices differ


Interpretation: Hauser:

- Irrational intuitions (gut reactions), not rational reasoning, are at work in our moral judgments

- These intuitions (gut reactions) are the result of evolutionary processes

- Fat man: avoid interpersonal violence

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The New Science of MoralityThe New Science of MoralityNeurobiologyNeurobiology

Results:

- Brain damage – loss of moral sense

- MRI: instincts vs rational reasoning in moral judgments

At least part of our moral judgments are influenced by some biological instincts – a “moral instinct”.

At least part of our moral judgments are influenced by some biological instincts – a “moral instinct”.


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The New Science of MoralityThe New Science of MoralityUniversal GrammarUniversal Grammar

Chomski and language learning:

- Universal grammar: innate

- Particulars of each language: culture

Pinker: “the primary colors of our moral sense”

Pinker: “the primary colors of our moral sense”


Similar idea in the moral domain:

- Universal grammar: innate

- Particulars of each morality: culture

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The New Science of MoralityThe New Science of MoralityConclusionConclusion

Psychological and Neurological research: Moral judgments are at least partly influenced

by a “moral instinct”, which is part of our biological make up, resulting from the long process of evolution

Hauser and Joyce: This shows that morality is an mere illusion. Does it follow? See Pinker

Psychological and Neurological research: Moral judgments are at least partly influenced

by a “moral instinct”, which is part of our biological make up, resulting from the long process of evolution

Hauser and Joyce: This shows that morality is an mere illusion. Does it follow? See Pinker


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OutlineOutline

Introduction




Conclusion

Problem 2: Morality debunked? Problem 2: Morality debunked?

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Morality debunked or Morality debunked or strengthened?strengthened?

Pinker: Morality not debunked but strengthened! How?

Pinker: Morality not debunked but strengthened! How?


PINKER:

"So, dissecting moral intuitions is no small matter. If morality is a mere trick of the brain, some may fear, our very grounds for being moral could be eroded. Yet as we shall see, the science of the moral sense can instead be seen as a way to strengthen those grounds, by clarifying what morality is and how it should steer our actions"

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Morality debunked or strengthened?Morality debunked or strengthened?Two ArgumentsTwo Arguments

Are we biologically determined to make the “moral” choices we make?

Are we biologically determined to make the “moral” choices we make?


1. Argument for Determinism:

P1. If our moral behavior results from our biological make up, then it is determined.

P2. Moral behavior is true moral behavior only if it results from free will

CC. There is no true moral behavior -- illusion

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Morality debunked or strengthened?Morality debunked or strengthened?Two ArgumentsTwo Arguments


2. Argument for Relativism:

P1. Whether a trait is selected by evolution depends on whether or not such trait is beneficial to survive in a certain environment.

P2. Whether or not such trait is beneficial to survive in a certain environment has nothing to do with it being right or wrong

CC. If our moral behavior is a trait selected by evolution, then it has nothing to do with right or wrong, ie:

- moral behavior is not grounded in moral truths

Is our “moral” behavior just another mean to survive?


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Morality debunked or strengthened?Morality debunked or strengthened?Against the Argument for DeterminismAgainst the Argument for Determinism


Are we biologically determined to make the moral choices we make? Seriously? – Princeton party

The universal grammar gives the primary colors: it remains to design the full painting!

The universal grammar gives the primary colors: it remains to design the full painting!

Three Levels:

- Universal Grammar: tool kit for building particular systems of morality

- But the particular systems come from other sources !

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Morality debunked or strengthened?Morality debunked or strengthened?Against the Argument for DeterminismAgainst the Argument for Determinism


There is no biological determinism for moral behavior

There is no biological determinism for moral behavior

Three Levels:

- Universal Grammar: tool kit

- Culture and Education: particulars – but we know it is not enough

- Intellectual Autonomy: reflection and modification

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Morality debunked or strengthened?Morality debunked or strengthened?Against the Argument for RelativismAgainst the Argument for Relativism



Compare with mathematics:

- We are born with a evolutionary-driven rudimentary mathematical knowledge – monkeys too!

- We build on it with mathematical reasoning and discover mathematical truths

From the fact that a rudimentary version of our mathematical knowledge is the result of evolution, it does not follow that we cannot build autonomous, true knowledge!

From the fact that a rudimentary version of our mathematical knowledge is the result of evolution, it does not follow that we cannot build autonomous, true knowledge!

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Morality debunked or strengthened?Morality debunked or strengthened?Against the Argument for RelativismAgainst the Argument for Relativism


Then for morality:

- We are born with a evolutionary-driven rudimentary moral tool-kit

- We build on it with rational reasoning and discover moral truths

There is no reason to reject the idea that that there are moral truths if we admit the existence of mathematical truths

There is no reason to reject the idea that that there are moral truths if we admit the existence of mathematical truths

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Morality debunked or strengthened?Morality debunked or strengthened?ConclusionConclusion

Evolutionary forces explain rudimentary versions some of our tendencies toward moral behavior, and some of the content of our moral thoughts.

But evolution is not the whole story: - There is no determinism of moral behavior - From the fact that some rudimentary version

of morality is the result of evolution, it does not follow that there are no moral truths

Evolutionary forces explain rudimentary versions some of our tendencies toward moral behavior, and some of the content of our moral thoughts.

But evolution is not the whole story: - There is no determinism of moral behavior - From the fact that some rudimentary version

of morality is the result of evolution, it does not follow that there are no moral truths


Autonomous rational thinking is what makes moral behavior and moral thoughts truly moral.

Autonomous rational thinking is what makes moral behavior and moral thoughts truly moral.

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ConclusionConclusion

PINKER: "Far from debunking morality, then, the

science of the moral sense can advance it, by allowing us to see through the illusions that evolution and culture have saddled us with and to focus on goals we can share and defend. As Anton Chekhov wrote, “Man will become better when you show him what he is like.” "

PINKER: "Far from debunking morality, then, the

science of the moral sense can advance it, by allowing us to see through the illusions that evolution and culture have saddled us with and to focus on goals we can share and defend. As Anton Chekhov wrote, “Man will become better when you show him what he is like.” "


Documents

1 The Evolution of Morality Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana