There Are 7 Universal Moral Rules That All Cultures Abide By

If the Ten Commandments seem overly demanding then you’ll be pleased to know that you can shave three requirements off this list, as there are in fact just seven pillars of morality that are universally lauded and observed across the world. According to researchers from the University of Oxford, these common rules may have arisen due to an evolutionary need for cooperation, and are therefore biologically hardwired into human nature.

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In a 2019 study, the authors sought to explore the theory of “morality-as-cooperation”, which predicts that certain pro-social behaviors will inevitably be considered good in all human cultures, due to the collective benefits they bring. These seven universal morals are listed as “helping kin, helping your group, reciprocating, being brave, deferring to superiors, dividing disputed resources, and respecting prior possession.”

According to the researchers, each of these behaviors facilitates the success of the human species and prevents us from destroying ourselves. Through the inevitable process of natural selection, these traits have therefore become reinforced over millions of years of evolution and are now a staple of our collective psychology.

Bravery and the fair division of resources, for instance, increase our capacity for conflict resolution, while the drive to help our own kin is linked to an abhorrence of incest due to the negative impact this has on the genes of our offspring. Reciprocity and looking out for members of one’s own group, meanwhile, promote social exchange, unity, and loyalty, all of which are essential for our survival.

Despite the rationale of the morality-as-cooperation hypothesis, however, the debate over whether a universal ethical code actually exists has remained unresolved for centuries. Back in 1751, for instance, the philosopher David Hume wrote that principles such as “truth, justice, courage, temperance, constancy, dignity of mind… [and] fidelity… [have been] esteemed universally, since the foundation of the world.”

Yet other thinkers like John Locke were less convinced, and believed that if you traveled far enough, you’d eventually find a group of people that frowned upon these virtues.

To test the theory, the study authors examined ethnographic reports from 60 cultures around the world. Summing up their findings, they write that “Hume was right, and Locke was wrong,” as the seven rules pertaining to morality-as-cooperation do appear to be universally treasured.

“In every society for which there were data, these seven cooperative behaviors were considered morally good,” explain the researchers. “There were no counterexamples, that is, societies in which these behaviors were considered morally bad,” they add. 

Furthermore, the survey indicated that the seven cooperative morals were widespread, appearing equally across the globe with no one region showing a greater or lesser inclination for any of these behaviors than any other region.

“The debate between moral universalists and moral relativists has raged for centuries, but now we have some answers,” said study author Dr Oliver Scott Curry in a statement. “Everyone everywhere shares a common moral code. All agree that cooperating, promoting the common good, is the right thing to do,” he explained.

Highlighting the impact that these findings could have on humanity as a whole, Curry said that “we hope that this research helps to promote mutual understanding between people of different cultures; an appreciation of what we have in common, and how and why we differ.”

The study is published in the journal Current Anthropology.