The Power of Ideals summary

Do you consider yourself selfish? According to the new science of morality, all humans are.

In an exploration of human decision making, researchers generally examine only one type of motive, and that’s self-interest. Why this narrow focus?

It’s easy to believe that humans are barbaric, based on media reports of war or violence. But when we take a look at human evolutionary psychology, we get quite a different picture.

Evolutionary science has illustrated just how crucial a role morality plays in human development. Moral behavior, while not necessarily beneficial on the level of the individual, does give a species a greater chance of surviving.

A person’s cultural background of course has a significant influence on his or her moral development. But it’s also important to consider that a person’s sense of morality can change; moral dispositions aren’t set in stone. Rather, they are shaped by your experiences over time.

Behavioral economists have illustrated this change with a game that shows how age is bound to a person’s understanding of fairness. In the “ultimatum game,” two players are given a sum of money to divide between themselves. The first player makes an offer to the second player, who may accept or reject the offer. If the second player rejects the offer, then neither player receives any money.

Humans are not passive when it comes to morality. We are able to construct, change and even grow our own moral codes. But what about deeply ingrained forms of morality, such as empathy? Interestingly enough, humans are able to shape and develop such moral emotions, too.

To put it simply, moral emotions are feelings and responses that are built into all people as a result of evolution. No matter if you were born in Europe, Asia, Africa or the United States, all humans largely share the same feeling of horror when witnessing someone get hurt. A baby will start crying when it hears another baby crying, regardless of cultural background!

Do you believe that honesty is always the best policy? Most of us are happy to tell a “white lie” if it makes life easier for us or for our peers.

Though being truthful is an ancient virtue, how relevant is it to life in the modern world?

Humility is often at the heart of spiritual teaching, practices that range across eras and continents. Yet even though humility forms the core of much of religious thought, its virtues are still debated.

How is this the case? Surely when people exhibit humility, this can only be a good thing?

When you hear the word “faith,” it might inspire thoughts of organized religion. Often too, depending on your background, these thoughts might be accompanied by feelings of skepticism.

In reality, the idea of faith doesn’t necessarily refer to a belief in a deity or higher power. Faith means simply to believe in something.