Moral origins

In 'Moral Origins,' Christopher Boehm argues that our moral sense is a sophisticated defense mechanism that enables individuals to survive and thrive in groups.

He explains that the biggest risks of group living are the possibilities of being punished for misdeeds, and that this social type of selection singles out altruists for survival.

This selection pressure has uniquely shaped human nature, breeding the first stirrings of conscience and ultimately leading to the fully developed sense of virtue and shame we know today.