The structure of moral normativity

 

We may define morality as the normative structure that is generated when we collaborate with [necessarily] imperfect, fallible others to achieve normative goals jointly or collectively.  The ultimate normative goals are thriving, surviving and/or reproducing.  Thriving or flourishing may, in humans, be biological, psychological, social, or/and moral.  There is a basic existential pressure within every organism to do the things that will lead to an increased chance of thriving, surviving and/or reproducing.  This pressure is a result of evolution and natural selection.  

Hence, we may say that raw instrumental normativity, the pressure to achieve goals, is synonymous with the pressure to do the things that will allow me to thrive, survive and/or reproduce.  

If we define morality as the normativity of collaborating to achieve joint goals, then at least the following features are generated; in any one morality, there may be extra features.  Each core feature in the list is a source of, or contains, normativity.  

The kind of morality generated (e.g., cooperative, patriarchal, pair-bonded, parental, familial, etc.) depends on the particular kind of goal and the way to achieve it.  

 

Interdependence shapes and directs normativity.  

 

Features of morality (sources of normativity)

Joint goal

Instrumental normativity = pressure to achieve goals

That for which we may be held accountable by others

Mutual risk and strategic trust

Joint commitment to normative standards and goals

Promoting, enforcing good behaviour according to norms

Discouraging, preventing bad behaviour according to norms

Partners

Partner choice by reputation and cooperative identity

Partner control

Roles and their ideal normative standards

Duty: sense of responsibility to (respected and valued) other partners to uphold ideal normative standards

A set of moral norms (general role ideals that apply to any collaboration alike, with this goal and method)

A set of moral values (policies for achieving moral goals)

A set of moral virtues (ideal performance of norms)

A set of moral vices (sub-standard performance of norms: to be avoided)

Intrapersonal, interpersonal and cultural levels

 

Types of morality (with goals; way of achieving them)

Cooperative (to thrive and survive; cooperation)

Parental (reproducing; parental care)

Familial (reproducing; cooperation with respect to inclusive fitness)

Pair-bonded (reproducing; pair-bonding)

Patriarchal (reproducing (men's); control and coercion of women)

Professional (any professional goal; professional standards)

Medical (health goals; medical ethics and standards)

Financial regulation bodies (goal of selling financial products fairly; regulation of parties involved)

Religious (serving God; religious practice)  

 

If I hold you accountable for your actions, it means that I make claims upon you to behave according the ideals of your role.  I compel you to do this through partner control: I am a source of normativity for you.  

Why I feel a responsibility to my cooperative partners to uphold role ideals, and why I feel guilty if I fail in this regard, is a good question.  When we make a commitment to collaborate, we form a joint agent "we" and I identify with "us" and our goals.  Therefore I relinquish some personal control in favour of self-governance on behalf of "us" towards our joint goal, which translates as responsibility towards my other partners.

Partner choice is a source of normativity because I need to have a good moral track record (reputation) in order to be chosen as a partner.  The best way to achieve this is actually to behave well, and be a genuinely good prospective partner.  So, there is pressure to behave well, as a result of partner choice through reputation.  My moral identity is my publicly known reputation.  My cooperative identity is my status as a good or bad cooperator with each of my partners.  

Roles have normative standards associated with them.  There is pressure to fulfil these normative standards, because each is a sub-goal of the overall goal.  A moral normative standard is an ideal that applies to any collaboration, pair-bond, parenthood, family, hospital, church, etc., alike.  They are general role ideals according to the joint goal that is pursued and the way it is pursued.  

Moral normativity is intrapersonal: it can come from within, and the conscience; it can be interpersonal, in that it may be passed between individual persons; and it can be cultural: group- or society-wide.  

 

Normativity

It is not surprising that every standard feature of morality either consists of, or is a source of, normativity. Morality is that which we do in pursuit of a joint goal, by definition.