Morality As A Social Engineering Tool | Hans-Georg Moeller | Escaped Sapiens #49

On this episode of the podcast I speak with Professor Hans-Georg Moeller from the University of Macau. Georg's work focusses on Chinese and Comparative Philosophy (specifically Daoism) and on Social and Political Thought (specifically Social Systems Theory). We discuss the role that morality plays as a potent social engineering tool for establishing order and power. While morality is usually thought of in a positive sense, morally charged communication is often rigid and divisive, and leaves little room for mediation. Our morality allows us to frame ourselves as heros for our own actions and claims of ownership, while judging those that disagree with us as not just wrong, but as evil. Georg argues for the benefits a more amoral society, and points to humor as an antidote to moral outrage, and righteous anger.
►For more information about Georg:
fah.um.edu.mo/hans-georg-moel...
►I highly recommend checking out Georg's own UA-cam channels Carefree Wandering and Philosophy in Motion:
www.youtube.com/@carefreewand...
www.youtube.com/@philosophyin...
►You can get a 20% discount on Georg's book `You and Your Profile: Identity After Authenticity', by using the promo code CUP20 on the Columbia University Press website:
cup.columbia.edu/book/you-and-...
These conversations are supported by the Andrea von Braun foundation (www.avbstiftung.de/), as an exploration of the rich, exciting, connected, scientifically literate, and (most importantly) sustainable future of humanity. The views expressed in these episodes are my own and those of my guests. This episode focuses on the upsides and downsides of using morality as a social tool for establishing and maintaining power, ownership, and hierarchy. If you find these discussions valuable then please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing.
Menu:
0:00 - Introduction
1:10 - What is morality
15:08 - Inconsistencies with absolute morality.
18:10 - How do moral rules develop?
28:05 - What is the benefit of morality?
31:30 - Why is morality effective?
37:50 - Benefits of reducing morality.
40:15 - Humor and becoming more amoral.
45:20 - Moral outrage.
46:45 - Morality and violence.
50:00 - Examples of moral outrage?
52:45 - Why is our morality out of control?
56:18 - Why do we give morality prestige?
1:03:00 - How do you determine what is fair?
1:15:05 - How does our morality change.
1:23:20 - Suffering associated with morality.
1:27:40 - Comedians and moral outrage.
1:28:55 - The future of morality.
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[@BennCrader]

Just discovered your channel.
I want to thank you for it, it's great!

[@EscapedSapiens]

Hi Benn, welcome to the channel! Comments like this really make my day.

[@morricane5087]

I'm not done listening yet, but will you ever figure out in this conversation that "durchsetzen" is usually best translated as "to enforce"? :D

[@EscapedSapiens]

I think from memory Georg works it out in the end. =D I was a write off...

[@JoseighBlogs]

Property? There's rousing hymns, ballads and all sorts of heartrending songs about it...
_For example..._
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the (Staten) New York Island,
From the Redwood Forest, to the Gulf stream waters,
God blessed America for me.
[This land was made for you and me.]
_Etc._
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Land_Is_Your_Land

[@EscapedSapiens]

I think you've hit the nail on the head. I'd never really thought about how socialized my own understanding of ownership is...