This statement emphasizes the role of survival in shaping moral motives and how our sense of identity and connection to others can influence our moral actions. Let’s analyze it step by step in light of our previous discussions:
1. Survival as the base motive: The statement suggests that the primary driving force behind morality is the desire for survival. This idea aligns with some evolutionary perspectives on morality, which propose that moral values and behaviors have evolved to promote group cohesion and cooperation, ultimately benefiting individual survival and reproduction.
2. Moral development and inculcation: As individuals grow up, they adopt the morals of their family and tribe, which become integrated into their psyche. This process is in line with the social constructivist view, which emphasizes the role of social context in shaping our moral beliefs and behaviors.
3. Ego and identity: The statement mentions that the ego’s primary drive is survival, and it extends this drive to include the survival of one’s family, tribe, or nation. This reflects the idea that our moral actions can be influenced by our sense of identity and how much we identify with the groups we belong to.
4. Moral flexibility and self-interest: The statement suggests that individuals may be willing to prioritize their self-interest (e.g., lying for self-safety) over the moral values they publicly uphold (e.g., honesty). This idea echoes some aspects of ethical egoism, which asserts that people ultimately act in their own best interests.
5. Morality as a means of control: Finally, the statement posits that moral values serve as a way to control ourselves and others for mutual safety and survival. This perspective highlights the functional aspect of morality in maintaining social order and facilitating cooperation among individuals.
In summary, the statement integrates various philosophical perspectives, including evolutionary morality, social constructivism, ethical egoism, and the functional role of morality, to describe how survival and self-interest can influence our moral motives and actions.