Morals are Simple Game Theory

[lehighguy]

Civilization needs certain principles in order to function. For instance, it tells people stealing is wrong because if everyone started stealing then law, order, and the social fabric would break down.

Lehighguy,

In your last post you touched on the part of the equation you missed in your first post.

There is not just a psychological satisfaction from acting morally. This part of the game is that you hope that by doing it others will do it, and you will all experience a net gain. This is why societies may have similar moral codes. Social norms are created in a Darwinian style. Unsuccesful norms produce bad societies which break down, succesful norms are found in succesful societies, ensuring the norm continues.

[lehighguy]

It was in the equation. If you act nice in the hope that people will be nice to you its all part of self interest. Wether that is physical niceness or psycological niceness doesn't matter.

As for wether social norms evolve in a Darwinian style, perhaps true. But not really related to the orginal question.