Introduction

The circle

We propose that all significant advances in morality occur through a virtuous cycle involving three interconnected elements:

• Situated experience

• Traditions

• Universal theories

Situated experience refers to how we behave in the moment, guided by our emotional responses, sense of right and wrong, interpersonal interactions, personal memories, and even our evolutionary instincts. These moment-to-moment reactions form the foundation of our moral awareness. When our instincts are conditioned to respond morally, ethical behavior starts to feel natural and intuitive.

Traditions encompass the shared practices and customs that communities develop over time to promote harmonious living. These include rituals, ceremonies, and codes of conduct that help individuals coexist respectfully and meaningfully. Traditions serve as a bridge between generations, offering a practical and emotionally resonant way to transmit moral values until they become second nature.

Universal theories are the rational frameworks that articulate and justify moral principles. These theories help explain and validate behaviors or feelings that might initially seem unfamiliar or even irrational to outsiders. Once understood, however, these theories make such behaviors appear logical and consistent. By abstracting morality into general principles, universal theories allow for broader application across different contexts and cultures. They help align individual and communal behaviors with values that can be widely accepted and embraced.

Together, these three elements reinforce each other: lived experience informs tradition, tradition gives context to theory, and theory reshapes both experience and tradition. This ongoing interplay drives the evolution of moral understanding across societies.

A path of progress

The positive cycle of moral development follows this direction: situated experience → traditions → universal theories → situated experience and then the cycle continues.

When our situated experiences lead to positive outcomes in our interactions with others, we tend to repeat them. Over time, these behaviors become habitual, reinforcing our sense of what is right or appropriate. As others adopt and mimic these behaviors, they begin to solidify into shared practices that are passed down through generations. Eventually, they evolve into traditions, often with their original context forgotten.

When traditions consistently contribute to the well-being and cohesion of a community, people begin to reflect on why they are effective. It seems unlikely to be mere coincidence—there must be a deeper principle at work, a moral law that applies universally. However, not everyone accepts traditions uncritically. Some individuals may feel constrained by them and begin to question their value or relevance. In response, those who have witnessed the positive impact of these traditions feel compelled to justify them using rational arguments. This leads to the formulation of universal theories—systematic moral principles intended to apply broadly, beyond the context of any single community.

When universal theories prove useful and successfully encourage moral behavior across various situations, they gain credibility. However, there is a danger in over-relying on them. These theories, no matter how elegant or far-reaching, are still just frameworks—and they may not apply perfectly to every situation. Eventually, people return to situated experience to test whether the theories remain valid in real life. When discrepancies or exceptions arise, lived experience takes precedence. If a particular behavior leads to a good outcome, even if it contradicts the theory, people may continue to follow it regardless.

From there, the process begins anew: the successful experience may become a new tradition, and over time, that tradition might inspire a revised or expanded universal theory, which is then tested again in real-world situations. As new exceptions emerge and are integrated, moral understanding continues to evolve—refining itself and rising to higher levels of insight.

A path of regress

However, when the moral cycle is inverted, morality begins to degenerate, leading to lower levels of ethical awareness and social cohesion.

When universal laws are imposed from the top down to dictate tradition, traditions lose their organic connection to the people who once lived and valued them. Instead of being appreciated, they become rigid prescriptions that feel alien or oppressive—especially to those who were never given the chance to understand their deeper meaning. The authentic, community-driven traditions that once fostered belonging and purpose are lost, replaced by a sense of helplessness and disconnection.

When traditions dictate situated experiences, they suppress the natural emotions of empathy, compassion, and care—emotions that form the foundation of a thriving moral community. People follow rules mechanically, without experiencing the emotional benefits those traditions once nurtured. As a result, tradition is no longer seen as something meaningful, but as a burden. Resentment grows, and the hope of eventually abandoning or escaping these traditions begins to take root.

When situated experiences are used to define universal laws, moral reasoning becomes fragmented and inconsistent. Decisions are guided by immediate gratification or what feels right for the individual, rather than by a broader concern for others. The “circle of care” shrinks, limited only to those with whom one shares direct positive experiences. Those outside this narrow circle are neglected, excluded, or even seen as morally irrelevant.

Once the circle of care contracts, we risk imposing narrow, emotionally disconnected universal laws on future generations. These laws, in turn, shape rigid traditions that new generations are expected to follow without question or understanding. This leads to a feeling of rebellion and alienation, driving people to seek meaning in smaller, more insular communities where they can rediscover positive situated experiences.

In such a fragmented moral landscape, shared values erode, and mutual understanding becomes difficult. As different groups follow incompatible traditions and disconnected universal theories, society becomes increasingly divided. Morality, instead of being a shared journey toward greater empathy and justice, splinters—and its unifying power is lost.