Culturally-evolved joint programs as a bridge between social norms and in-the-moment reasoning

Area of Science:

• Moral Psychology
• Cultural Evolution
• Behavioral Economics

Background:

• Culturally-evolved moral norms are often viewed as rigid byproducts of evolutionary processes.
• Integrating in-the-moment moral reasoning with established moral norms presents a theoretical challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a more integrative account of culturally-evolved moral norms.
• To advocate for continuity between immediate moral reasoning and societal moral standards.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of existing theories on moral norms and cultural evolution.
• Development of an alternative framework viewing norms as culturally-evolved joint programs.

Main Results:

• Culturally-evolved norms can be understood as dynamic, resource-rational joint programs.
• This perspective offers a more nuanced view than norms as mere byproducts of blind selection.

Conclusions:

• Viewing moral norms as adaptive, historically-informed joint programs enhances understanding of their continuity with individual moral reasoning.
• This integrative approach supports the proposal for greater coherence between immediate ethical judgments and societal moral frameworks.