Grand Challenges in Social Physics: In Pursuit of Moral Behavior

Frontiers in Physics 6, 107 (2018)

5 Pages Posted: 3 Nov 2018 Last revised: 7 Aug 2019

See all articles by Valerio Capraro

Valerio Capraro

Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca - Department of Psychology

Matjaz Perc

Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor

Date Written: October 11, 2018

Abstract

Methods of statistical physics have proven valuable for studying the evolution of cooperation in social dilemma games. However, recent empirical research shows that cooperative behavior in social dilemmas is only one kind of a more general class of behavior, namely moral behavior, which includes reciprocity, respecting others' property, honesty, equity, efficiency, as well as many others. Inspired by these experimental works, we here open up the path towards studying other forms of moral behavior with methods of statistical physics. We argue that this is a far-reaching direction for future research that can help us answer fundamental questions about human sociality. Why did our societies evolve as they did? What moral principles are more likely to emerge? What happens when different moral principles clash? Can we predict the break out of moral conflicts in advance and contribute to their solution? These are amongst the most important questions of our time, and methods of statistical physics could lead to new insights and contribute towards finding answers.

Keywords: cooperation, morality, statistical physics, phase transition

JEL Classification: C00, C02, C60, C63, C70, C71, C72, C73, D00, D01, D63, D64, D74,

Suggested Citation

Capraro, Valerio and Perc, Matjaz, Grand Challenges in Social Physics: In Pursuit of Moral Behavior (October 11, 2018). Frontiers in Physics 6, 107 (2018), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3264767 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3264767

Valerio Capraro (Contact Author)

Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca - Department of Psychology ( email )

Matjaz Perc

Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor ( email )

Koroska cesta 160
Maribor, SI-2000
Slovenia

HOME PAGE: http://www.matjazperc.com/

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