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Help us create The Periodic Table of Ethics!
1. According to the theory of Morality-as-Cooperation (MAC) there are at least seven simple moral ‘elements’ – family, group, reciprocity, heroism, deference, fairness, property rights – that can be combined to create at least 127 complex moral ‘molecules’ https://twitter.com/Oliver_S_Curry/status/1270392705084989441?s=20
2. In the paper, we sketch candidate moral molecules for each of the 21 combinations of two elements (‘second-order’ molecules)
3. We have now created a spreadsheet for identifying the remaining ~99 possible molecules ('third-', 'fourth-', 'fifth-', 'sixth-', & 'seventh-order' molecules) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1baN-fX8XBPlaTScCzib-L8UK_sy_d8TeT4AsjyCfN68/edit#gid=0 Can you help us fill it?
4. If you have a candidate moral molecule that meets the criteria, please add it to the (editable) spreadsheet, along with a reference, any explanatory notes, and your name & contact details. (Or just email or DM me if you prefer.)
5. Each moral molecule has its own unique ID number, according to this binary notation system:
6. If you’re having trouble locating your molecule, or you want to see whether a location is already filled, try the MAC Molecule Finder in the second tab https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1baN-fX8XBPlaTScCzib-L8UK_sy_d8TeT4AsjyCfN68/edit#gid=696222506
7. For example, MAC predicts there might be a form of ‘filial piety’ that includes not only ‘family’ & ‘deference’ but also ‘reciprocity’. This would be: family (1), group (0), reciprocity (1), heroism (0), deference (1), fairness (0), property rights (0) = 0010101 = #21
8. The theory also predicts that there might be a form of ‘honour’ that includes not only ‘reciprocity’ & ‘heroism’ but also 'family’ and ‘group’ This would be: family (1), group (1), reciprocity (1), heroism (1), deference (0), fairness (0), property rights (0) = 0001111 = #15
9. Or here’s a possible example from @Evolving_Moloch. Icelandic Honor seems to include: family (1), group (0), reciprocity (1), heroism (1), deference (0), fairness (0), property rights (1) = 1001101 = #77. https://twitter.com/Evolving_Moloch/status/1211116013992890368
10. Note that MAC does not predict that every *possible* moral molecule will *actually* exist (some might be unstable, or useless; some may not have been invented yet, etc); and some may appear in some cultures but not others.
11. Note also that the theory predicts there might be >1 molecule per location, so feel free to add additional alternatives in extra columns. (The frequency & distribution of moral molecules – why some areas are more populated than others – is an interesting question in itself.)
12. We are also interested in moral molecules that *do not* appear be be analysable into this system of elements. Such molecules have the potential to falsify – and prompt revision of – the theory. Email or DM me, or just reply below.
13. All contributions will be acknowledged in the subsequent publication. Feel free to get in touch with any questions. Thank you in advance for your consideration. <end of thread>
