Your Moral GPS Is Set to 150 AD

Your moral intuitions feel rock-solid. Someone cuts in line and you’re genuinely angry. Someone helps a stranger and you’re genuinely moved. But here’s the thing: those feelings evolved when humans lived in groups of maybe 150 people. Everyone knew everyone. Reputation mattered because you’d see the same faces for decades. Cheating your neighbor meant cheating someone who might refuse to share food during the next drought. Being generous meant building relationships that could save your life....

April 6, 2026 · 1 min · The Pleasure Principle