Everyone believes they have rights. But individual rights crumble without universal human rights.
The universe, or nature if you prefer, seems indifferent to me.
Species evolve then die out. And things go on.
An animal eats another animal alive, at great suffering to one and benefit to the other.
Millions of human beings have lived and died but today are completely forgotten as if they never lived.
Yet, human beings evolved a set of behaviors that enhance the survival of individuals who depend in part on the group to survive.
Those who did not play well with others in the evolutionary environment found themselves ostracized — and perhaps unable to survive without the group. And the group killed some for being a threat to other people’s survival.
Our innate moral sensibilities, in order of importance, are:
- You shouldn’t do that to me.
- You shouldn’t do that to people I care about.
- I shouldn’t do that to you if others will hold me accountable.
We’re first and foremost concerned about what happens to us, and how we treat others is often an afterthought — especially if we think there won’t be any consequences.
This sounds cynical and selfish. But everyone is self-interested. Those who deny this are the most dangerous of all because they fail to see their selfishness until it’s too late.
But just because selfishness is part of our evolutionary inheritance does not mean things ought to be this way. The fact that we can do better challenges excuses for acting selfishly.
Further, morality isn’t just a matter of personal preference. It’s true that no man is an island — even a hermit needs other people to survive.
An important aspect of morality, then, consists of standards generally accepted by a group for continued membership in that group.
And the recognition that we are incorrigibly egotistical is necessary to see the larger group picture.
That’s why various iterations of the Golden Rule — from the Far East to the West — tell us to treat others the way we want to be treated.
It’s a moral ideal precisely because it runs counter to our impulses.
The problem, however, is that a group might oppress a minority or an out-group without negative consequences. Tribalism is also an evolved feature of human behavior, and it has serious consequences for our treatment of foreigners, minorities, and so on.
On what basis can say this is wrong?
If our primary moral sensibility is that “you shouldn’t do this to me” then the rights of the individual are the basis for all human rights.
To put it selfishly, if you don’t support human rights for others then you have no reason to expect others to support your human rights.
Moreso, culture is the mechanism for promoting ideals such as universal human rights.
If limiting ourselves to our biological inheritance were sufficient then we’d still be living in caves. But we are capable of creating technology that improves our lives and reduces the capricious effects of nature.
Likewise for culture extending moral ideals beyond our selfish impulses.
Still, we cannot completely eliminate tribalism. But we know we’re failing when we point a finger at others.