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Moral progress as a counter-attractor
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 July 2026
Abstract
Singh’s model accounts for cultural convergence but not moral progress. Historical expansions in moral status and the decline of cruel punishment constitute principled departures from parochial utility optimization. Empathy, reflective override, and institutional scaffolding support such breakthroughs. Moral progress therefore functions as a counter-attractor dynamic that enables systematic divergence from utility-based equilibria and requires explanatory resources beyond subjective selection alone.
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- Open Peer Commentary
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- © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press
References
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Target article
Subjective selection, super-attractors, and the origins of the cultural manifold
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Author response
Goals, power, and selection: Foundational issues in the naturalistic study of culture