Moral Molecules: Morality as a Combinatorial System

Abstract What is morality? How many moral values are there? And what they? According to the theory of morality-as-cooperation, morality a collection biological and cultural solutions problems cooperation recurrent in human social life. This predicts that there will be as different types cooperation. Previous research, drawing on evolutionary game theory, has identified at least seven cooperation, used them explain morality: family values, group loyalty, reciprocity, heroism, deference, fairness property rights. Here we explore conjecture these simple ‘elements’ combine form much larger number more complex ‘molecules’, such combinatorial system. For each combination two elements, hypothesise candidate molecule, successfully locate an example it professional popular literature. These molecules include: fraternity, blood revenge, pride, filial piety, gavelkind, primogeniture, friendship, patriotism, tribute, diplomacy, common ownership, honour, confession, turn taking, restitution, modesty, mercy, munificence, arbitration, mendicancy, queuing. findings indicate – like other physical, biological, psychological systems indeed Thus morality-as-cooperation provides principled powerful explains why they be; generates systematic framework potential all ideas, possible actual. Pursuing implications this help place study secure scientific footing.