A Natural History of Human Morality

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The evolution of human moral psychology is meticulously explored through experimental comparisons between great apes and human children. Michael Tomasello outlines two pivotal evolutionary steps: first, the necessity for early humans to collaborate for survival led to the development of joint intentionality and shared commitments. Second, as populations grew, complex divisions of labor fostered cultural identities, resulting in collective intentionality and established norms of morality. This dual process shaped contemporary humans' ability to engage in both personal and communal moral frameworks.