Origins of Western Morality
Good and evil, right and wrong, are ideas existing only in the minds of humans. They are closely associated with religious teachings, which in turn were developed and promulgated by ruling elites. Where and when did it all begin? There are many preconditions for intergenerational social regulation but they probably include the written word and some level of literacy. At least some of the population must be able to write down and modify the rules, and at least some must be able to read them. And if not everyone can read, those who can need a mechanism for imparting the message to those that cannot. A schedule of community meetings requires an understanding of time, and gatherings of disparate people require an understanding of place. All this is easier to accomplish if at least some portion of the community is settled. And a precondition for settlement is either a very abundant and stable natural source of local food, or at least some form of herding or ...