That helps me understand where the evolution reference comes from and how the tip fits in, but I still don’t understand where you get your preference.
Most people would like to be richer, more powerful, and more admired, and it may be that their morality is keeping them from that. But most people would probably also like to be more moral, more compassionate, and contribute more to society, and their desire for material success is keeping them from that. Moral choices are a trade-off between these two desires.
Like all trade-offs, which option to choose depends on the value of each good involved. In a choice between getting an extra dollar and saving a million lives, I’d choose the lives. In a choice between getting a million dollars and preventing one other person getting a dust-speck-in-the-eye, I’d take the million. The question isn’t whether to take moral or material goods, it’s at what rate to exchange them.
This post seems to be arguing that people consistently overvalue moral goods and undervalue material goods. But when psychologists actually study the issue, they find the opposite: that moral goods are much more effective at purchasing life satisfaction and personal happiness than material goods (This study is the first I found, and not necessarily the best, of a large number).
If increasing our consumption of material as opposed to moral goods isn’t justified by evolutionary history and doesn’t make us happier, what exactly is the advantage?
This post seems to be arguing that people consistently overvalue moral goods and undervalue material goods.
Huh? I read Shalmanese’s post as arguing that some moral goods are “moral junk food” and impede your progress towards other, more “wholesome” moral goods—not necessarily material. This thesis strikes me as correct, but for some reason the commenters aren’t addressing it directly.
Most people would like to be richer, more powerful, and more admired, and it may be that their morality is keeping them from that. But most people would probably also like to be more moral, more compassionate, and contribute more to society, and their desire for material success is keeping them from that.
I agree with your larger point, but I have a minor quibble. I don’t think ‘contribution to society’ should be grouped with the second set of goals—generally it’s much easier and more productive to contribute through money and power.
But when psychologists actually study the issue, they find the opposite: that moral goods are much more effective at purchasing life satisfaction and personal happiness than material goods (This study is the first I found, and not necessarily the best, of a large number).
Not only that, but moral goods are also often the best way of gaining or maintaining status. As Shalma’s video observes, this even applies to gorillas.
That helps me understand where the evolution reference comes from and how the tip fits in, but I still don’t understand where you get your preference.
Most people would like to be richer, more powerful, and more admired, and it may be that their morality is keeping them from that. But most people would probably also like to be more moral, more compassionate, and contribute more to society, and their desire for material success is keeping them from that. Moral choices are a trade-off between these two desires.
Like all trade-offs, which option to choose depends on the value of each good involved. In a choice between getting an extra dollar and saving a million lives, I’d choose the lives. In a choice between getting a million dollars and preventing one other person getting a dust-speck-in-the-eye, I’d take the million. The question isn’t whether to take moral or material goods, it’s at what rate to exchange them.
This post seems to be arguing that people consistently overvalue moral goods and undervalue material goods. But when psychologists actually study the issue, they find the opposite: that moral goods are much more effective at purchasing life satisfaction and personal happiness than material goods (This study is the first I found, and not necessarily the best, of a large number).
If increasing our consumption of material as opposed to moral goods isn’t justified by evolutionary history and doesn’t make us happier, what exactly is the advantage?
Huh? I read Shalmanese’s post as arguing that some moral goods are “moral junk food” and impede your progress towards other, more “wholesome” moral goods—not necessarily material. This thesis strikes me as correct, but for some reason the commenters aren’t addressing it directly.
I agree with your larger point, but I have a minor quibble. I don’t think ‘contribution to society’ should be grouped with the second set of goals—generally it’s much easier and more productive to contribute through money and power.
Not only that, but moral goods are also often the best way of gaining or maintaining status. As Shalma’s video observes, this even applies to gorillas.