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Puritanical morality and the scaffolded evolution of self-control
Walter Veit1, Heather Browning2
1Department of Philosophy, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK wrwveit@gmail.com; https://walterveit.com/.
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|October 4, 2023
Summary
Morality
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary psychology
- Moral philosophy
Background:
- Morality is theorized to evolve for cooperation.
- Puritanical norms condemn harmless pleasures, creating a paradox.
- Reconciling these concepts is a significant challenge in moral philosophy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To resolve the paradox between cooperative morality and puritanical norms.
- To explore the evolutionary function of self-control in moral development.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical argumentation
- Literature review of existing theories on morality and cooperation
Main Results:
- Puritanical norms evolved to scaffold self-control.
- Self-control facilitates cooperation by managing desires and impulses.
- This framework reconciles the apparent conflict in moral evolution.
Conclusions:
- Puritanical norms are not inherently irrational but serve an evolutionary function.
- Self-control, promoted by these norms, is key to cooperative success.
- This perspective offers a novel understanding of moral evolution and self-regulation.
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