THE STRATIFICATION OF RULES OF CONDUCT36
The development of rules of conduct has created a complex system, reflecting different stages of cultural evolution. Humans face conflicts because modern society involves inherited instinctive drives and ancient traditions from previous social structures, along with newer rules that are purposely adopted. As society evolved from small groups to larger communities, people shifted from following natural instincts to adhering to learned abstract rules. These innate instincts, suited to small bands, are not always beneficial in modern society. While many believe that what is "natural" is good, this assumption can be misleading, as civilization requires discipline to control instincts that do not fit within a larger societal order. The morals that support open societies do not aim to fulfill human emotions; rather, they signal appropriate behavior based on ancient contexts. Cultural progress often required suppressing innate rules in favor of new ones that allowed for cooperation among larger groups, leading to the acceptance of practices that may not have been understood by all members.
The development of rules of conduct has created a complex system, reflecting different stages of cultural evolution. Humans face conflicts because modern society involves inherited instinctive drives and ancient traditions from previous social structures, along with newer rules that are purposely adopted. As society evolved from small groups to larger communities, people shifted from following natural instincts to adhering to learned abstract rules. These innate instincts, suited to small bands, are not always beneficial in modern society. While many believe that what is "natural" is good, this assumption can be misleading, as civilization requires discipline to control instincts that do not fit within a larger societal order. The morals that support open societies do not aim to fulfill human emotions; rather, they signal appropriate behavior based on ancient contexts. Cultural progress often required suppressing innate rules in favor of new ones that allowed for cooperation among larger groups, leading to the acceptance of practices that may not have been understood by all members.