A genuine moral sense evolved to secure reputation as a cooperator

Evidence

In a mutualistic perspective, the function of moral behavior is to secure a good reputation as a cooperator. The proximal mechanism that has evolved to fulfill this function is, we argue, a genuine moral sense (for a more detailed discussion, see Sperber & Baumard 2012). This account is in the same spirit as a well-known argument made by Trivers (1971; see also Frank 1988; Gauthier 1986) — Nicolas Baumard, A mutualistic approach to morality, 67

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the mutualistic account: moral behavior functions to secure cooperative reputation, mediated by an evolved genuine moral sense.
• XREF: Directly relevant to the reader’s project on Rodrigues’ internal ‘Big God’ gaze versus externally imposed public rituals. — connects to: Morality evolved because fair partners were preferred in cooperative interactions — Nicolas Baumard, A mutualistic approach to morality: The…, 4; Mutualistic anthropology explains moral anger as an evolved fairness-restoring mechanism — Nicolas Baumard, A mutualistic approach to morality: The…, 354; Conscience evolved to supply immediate rewards that bridge the gap to future moral payoffs — Nicolas Baumard, A mutualistic approach to morality: The…, 423 (+8 more)

Related

• Morality evolved because fair partners were preferred in cooperative interactions (similarity 0.86)
• Morality evolved as a propensity for fair cost-benefit sharing among cooperators. (similarity 0.85)
• Informal moral behavior builds reputation through accumulated small signals, defeating free-riding. (similarity 0.84)
• Conscience evolved to supply immediate rewards that bridge the gap to future moral payoffs (similarity 0.84)
• Cooperative behavior is partly motivated by reputation concerns. (similarity 0.83)
• Morality is an evolved sense of fairness, not a late intellectual achievement (similarity 0.83)
• Moral gossip targets more than fairness, tracking loyalty and norm adherence too. (similarity 0.83)
• Cooperation and morality are distinct categories. (similarity 0.83)
• Morality evolves from individual partner-choice competition, not group selection. (similarity 0.82)
• Morality extends beyond fairness among strangers to relational obligations (similarity 0.82)
• Partner selection produces genuine moral feelings, not just narrow self-interested cooperation. (similarity 0.82)
• Morality may have evolved via partner choice over partner control (similarity 0.82)
• Morality evolves in two steps, from selfish reciprocity to intrinsic fairness. (similarity 0.82)
• Mutualistic anthropology explains moral anger as an evolved fairness-restoring mechanism (similarity 0.81)
• Moral behavior shifts with the market supply and demand of cooperative partners (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• Morality evolved as a propensity for fair cost-benefit sharing among cooperators. #corroborates (0.85) — Nicolas Baumard, A mutualistic approach to morality, 266
• Cooperative behavior is partly motivated by reputation concerns. #expands (0.82) — Nicolas Baumard, A mutualistic approach to morality, 311
• Partner selection produces genuine moral feelings, not just narrow self-interested cooperation. #corroborates (0.78) — Nicolas Baumard, A mutualistic approach to morality, 202
• Informal moral behavior builds reputation through accumulated small signals, defeating free-riding. #corroborates (0.75) — Nicolas Baumard, A mutualistic approach to morality, 80