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June 13, 2024 • 1hr 47min
#796 - Rob Kurzban - The Evolutionary Psychology Of Human Morality
Modern Wisdom
In this episode of Modern Wisdom, host Chris Williamson interviews Rob Kurzban, a psychologist and author who studies evolutionary psychology and morality. They discuss the evolutionary origins and functions of human morality, how moral beliefs are used strategically, and the challenges posed by modern technology and social media for moral behavior. Kurzban presents a somewhat cynical view of human nature, arguing that moral beliefs and accusations are often motivated by self-interest rather than pure ethical principles.
#796 - Rob Kurzban - The Evolutionary Psychology Of Human Morality
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Key Takeaways
- Morality often serves as a tool for people to advance their own interests and reproductive strategies, rather than being based purely on ethical principles
- Evolutionary psychology suggests support for abortion policies may be linked to sexual strategies - those favoring more promiscuous lifestyles tend to support abortion access, while those in monogamous relationships tend to oppose it
- Moral beliefs and accusations can be used as weapons to attack others and gain social status, especially when there is impunity for making accusations
- Hypocrisy reveals the modular nature of the human mind, where different parts can hold contradictory beliefs and motivations
- Modern technology has amplified the potential harm of moral attacks and reputational damage, creating a mismatch with our evolved psychology
- Cultivating wisdom and humility about our own knowledge and motivations may help counteract some negative tendencies in moral behavior
Introduction
In this episode of Modern Wisdom, host Chris Williamson interviews Rob Kurzban, a psychologist and author who studies evolutionary psychology and morality. They discuss the evolutionary origins and functions of human morality, how moral beliefs are used strategically, and the challenges posed by modern technology and social media for moral behavior. Kurzban presents a somewhat cynical view of human nature, arguing that moral beliefs and accusations are often motivated by self-interest rather than pure ethical principles.
Topics Discussed
Evolutionary Psychology of Abortion Policy (4:33)
Kurzban explains his research on how support for abortion policies may be linked to sexual strategies:
- Those favoring more promiscuous lifestyles tend to support abortion access, as it reduces the costs of that strategy
- Those in monogamous relationships tend to oppose abortion, as restricting it increases costs for potential infidelity
- This suggests moral views on abortion may be motivated by reproductive interests rather than purely ethical considerations
"What's really going on here is that people are sort of using favoring abortion as a way to get the policies in place that advances their reproductive interests."
Origins and Functions of Morality (34:17)
Kurzban presents his view on the evolutionary origins of morality:
- Morality serves as a "side-choosing mechanism" in conflicts
- By accusing others of moral violations, we can recruit allies against them
- This allows us to avoid being on the losing side of conflicts
- Morality is not primarily about cooperation or harm prevention, but about strategic social maneuvering
"The nice thing about that is when fights break out, I'm always on the side that has everybody else on it."
Moral Rules and Cultural Evolution (37:17)
The discussion covers how specific moral rules emerge and spread:
- People constantly create new moral rules
- Rules that serve people's interests tend to gain support and spread
- Some rules, like prohibitions on violence, are nearly universal
- Other rules, like allowing interest on loans, vary between cultures but can provide advantages
- Cultural evolution leads to the spread of moral rules that are beneficial or aligned with people's interests
Morality as a Weapon (42:58)
Kurzban explains how morality can be used as a weapon:
- Moral accusations can be used to attack others and gain social status
- Historical examples include witch trials and racial oppression
- Modern "call-out culture" provides reputational benefits for making accusations
- The ability to make moral accusations with impunity creates opportunities for bullying
"These accusations that one has broken a moral rule, these really, I think of these accusations as attacks and morality as a weapon."
Hypocrisy and the Modular Mind (1:11:18)
The discussion covers Kurzban's views on hypocrisy:
- Hypocrisy reveals the modular nature of the human mind
- Different parts of the mind can hold contradictory beliefs and motivations
- This explains how people can sincerely hold moral beliefs while acting contrary to them
- Studying hypocrisy provides insight into the fundamental architecture of the human mind
"For me, hypocrisy is kind of like a window into the very deep architecture where the brain isn't just one big mushy thing, it's actually a lot of different parts."
Reputation and Moral Behavior (1:30:51)
The role of reputation in moral behavior is discussed:
- Reputation has tangible effects on income, mating opportunities, and social status
- Modern technology allows reputation to be more directly quantified (e.g. social media followers)
- The desire to cultivate a positive reputation motivates much moral posturing
- Understanding reputation management is key to explaining many moral behaviors
Technology and Moral Attacks (1:25:10)
Kurzban discusses how modern technology has changed the landscape of moral behavior:
- Social media amplifies the potential harm of moral accusations
- There is a mismatch between our evolved psychology and the power of modern communication tools
- People often don't realize the harm potential of their online actions
- This creates new challenges for managing moral behavior in the digital age
"We have this mind that's not really evolved to sort of be calibrated to the size of the harm that we do, particularly in this world where you can multiply it very fast."
Wisdom and Overcoming Biological Tendencies (1:43:21)
The discussion concludes with thoughts on cultivating wisdom:
- Humans have a unique capacity for social learning and wisdom
- Practices like mindfulness can help develop self-awareness and wisdom
- Wisdom involves humility about one's knowledge and motivations
- Cultivating wisdom may help counteract some negative tendencies in moral behavior
"My hope is located in the fact that humans can learn new stuff. I mean, we've done amazing things technologically. There's work to be done inside ourselves."
Conclusion
This wide-ranging discussion presents a somewhat cynical view of human moral nature, emphasizing how moral beliefs and accusations are often motivated by self-interest rather than pure ethical principles. However, it also offers hope that humans can cultivate wisdom and self-awareness to overcome some of these tendencies. The conversation highlights the complex interplay between our evolved psychology, cultural evolution, and modern technology in shaping moral behavior. Understanding these dynamics may help us navigate moral challenges more effectively in the future.