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The Evolution of Guilt: A Model-Based Approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Abstract

Using evolutionary game theory, I consider how guilt can provide individual fitness benefits to actors both before and after bad behavior. This supplements recent work by philosophers on the evolution of guilt with a more complete picture of the relevant selection pressures.

Type
Moral Emotions
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

Many thanks to Justin Bruner, Edouard Machery, Jay Odenbaugh, Brian Skyrms, James Weatherall, and various conference and colloquium audiences for comments on this work. Special thanks to Michael Deem and Grant Ramsey for their continued feedback and the original inspiration.

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