The sense of moral obligation facilitates information agency and culture. (2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maranges, Heather M.; Baumeister, Roy F.; Vohs, Kathleen D.
• Is Part Of: Behavioral and brain sciences. Volume 43(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020
• Subjects: Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Brain -- Periodicals; 616.89142
• DOI: 10.1017/S0140525X19002334
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-525X

Abstract

Abstract: Tomasello argues that humans' sense of moral obligation emerges early in development, relies on a shared "we, " and serves as the foundation of cooperation. This perspective complements our theoretical view of the human self as information agent . The shared "we" promotes not only proximal cooperative goals but also distal ones via the construction of shared understanding – it promotes culture.