Moral Origins

Welcome to my Weblog, MoralOrigins.com, which consists of a series of weekly explorations into the origins of moral and political values, and how ancient struggles for survival and sexual gratification still play themselves out in most high-profile, present-day moral/political issues.

I believe there are a number of influences that have helped to shape our moral concepts, some of the most profound of them stemming from the evolution of our species and our predecessor species through natural selection and sexual selection, and that some of the different moral and political values that compete actively today can be traced to a competition among these early influences that is still unresolved and ongoing. Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, the Religious Right, Pro-lifers, Pro-choicers, militarists, doves, traditionalists, radicals — these and many other contemporary moral/political groups can be recognized as expressions of prehistoric responses to conflicting needs and desires of an earlier time, influenced somewhat by the changed circumstances of a modern society.

It is my hope and expectation that, through a deeper understanding of why others believe as they do, and even more importantly why each of us believes as we do, we can all deal more effectively, at a root-cause level, with the moral differences that divide us.

I post an issue once each week, early Friday morning, U.S. time. Specifically, each Friday posting will be at approximately 4 am Pacific Time, 7 am Eastern Time. Comments are encouraged and will be posted when received, after my review. Spam and unthinking outbursts of emotion will be rejected, but relevant thoughtful views are welcomed and will be posted, whether I agree with them or not.