The in-depth study used over 600 cultural records from 60 societies around the world, making it the largest sample in this area.
All the wars and conflicts that have plagued human civilization for centuries can make some people think that it is the constant clashes of irreconcilable cultures that are to blame. However, new research has the potential to challenge this thesis. In their new work, Oxford University researchers found startling and optimistic evidence to the contrary: all cultures are in fact bound by a common moral code of seven different common rules and patterns of behavior. The results of this work are published in the journal Current Anthropology.
Using a database of intercultural variation called Human Relations Area Files (HRAF, hosted by Yale University), a team of researchers led by Oliver Scott Curry began studying the development of morality in human cultures. To do this, they scanned evidence of seven discrete moral behaviors in over 600,000 words of ethnographic accounts. These joint actions and rules - a proposed universal code of ethics - are: helping the family, helping one's community, reciprocity, courage, obedience to superiors (respect), sharing disputed resources (fairness), and respecting prior ownership (property rights).
In the course of their work, scientists found that these seven rules were equally recognized in the various cultures studied and were never perceived as morally bad. In addition, many of these behaviors were observed in most cultures and with the same frequency in different regions.
In addition, the universal moral code automatically condemns opposing behaviors: neglect of relatives, betrayal of one's group, lack of mutual assistance, cowardice, disrespect, injustice and theft.
Of 962 observations of these principles, only one exception was found among the Chuuk society in Micronesia: according to scientists, in this society it is not condemned to openly steal from others, since such behavior demonstrates human dominance and indicates that he is not afraid of the aggression and strength of others. … At the same time, researchers note that this trait can be interpreted as a special form of courage.
Not every society evaluates or prioritizes these social norms in the same way, but the fact that they are unequivocally positive and respected in such diverse societies is essential to support the concept of moral universalism as opposed to moral relativism.
Dmitry Mazalevsky
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