The origin and development of the moral ideas

Name: The origin and development of the moral ideas
Author: Edward Westermarck

By Edward Westermarck

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About This Book

The work traces the origins and development of moral ideas by combining comparative ethnography with psychological and philosophical analysis. It argues that moral judgments arise from emotions, kinship bonds, religious beliefs, and practical social needs, and then examines specific institutions and taboos such as marriage and sexual rules, obligations to kin, homicide and purification rites, conscience and punishment, and the relation between law and religion. By showing how expanding circles of sympathy, shifting beliefs, and institutional changes transform local customs into generalized norms, it offers a systematic account of how moral concepts evolve across different societies.

About the Author

Edward Westermarck

Edward Westermarck was a Finnish philosopher and sociologist, best known for his influential works on marriage and morality. His seminal book, "The History of Human Marriage," explores the cultural and social aspects of marriage across different societies, providing a comprehensive analysis of its evolution. Westermarck's contributions to the study of moral ideas are encapsulated in his work "The Origin and Development of the Moral Ideas," where he examines the roots of ethical concepts. His interdisciplinary approach combined sociology, anthropology, and philosophy, making him a significant figure in the early 20th-century discourse on human relationships and moral philosophy.