Moral help extends only to where its cost stays below expected benefit.

Evidence

How far and how deep can mutualistic relationships extend? This is likely to depend largely on social and environmental factors. But mutatis mutandis, the logic is likely to be the same as in mutual aid societies: Individuals should help one another in a way that is mutually advantageous; that is, they should help one another to the extent that the cost of helping is less than the expected benefit of being helped when in need. Thus, we will hold doors when people are close to them, but not when they are far away; we will offer a ride to a friend who has lost his car keys, but not drive him home every day; we will help the needy, but only up to a point (the poverty line). — Nicolas Baumard, A mutualistic approach to morality, 80

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the precise boundary condition of mutualistic moral obligation: cost < expected benefit, with concrete everyday examples.

Related

• Moral obligation to help scales with recipient benefit relative to actor cost. (similarity 0.81)
• Mutual aid must remain equitable or helpers are judged as poor partners (similarity 0.80)
• Mutualistic cost-benefit logic may explain transcendent moral sentiment. (similarity 0.79)
• Mutualism faces three challenges, all involving cost without visible return. (similarity 0.79)
• Morality is about fair cooperation, not maximizing welfare. (similarity 0.79)