Religion als Anreiz für Kooperation

Victoria von der Leyen ()
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Victoria von der Leyen: Preisträgerin des Max-Weber-Preises für Wirtschaftsethik (Bachelor) 2018 Institut für Ökonomische Bildung, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, DeutschlandDerzeit: Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford, Oxford, Vereinigtes Königreich

Journal for Markets and Ethics, 2019, vol. 7, issue 1, 35-49

Abstract: Might religion function as an incentive for cooperation? This article defends that religion is an incentive for cooperation from both an evolutionary perspective (based on game-theoretical models) and a philosophical perspective. Religion (defined as god-fearing behavior) can be described as evolutionary advantageous since one refrained from actions perceived as immoral and contrary to God’s will. Under the assumption that god-fearing behavior is equal to cooperative behavior, god-fearing behavior is a corrective for ethical failure. However, even today religion can function as a corrective for ethical failure: religion can dissolve the contrast between morality and self-interest by promoting one’s ability to see an intrinsic value in cooperative, moral behavior.

Keywords: game theory; religion; cooperative behavior; ethics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 C70 D81 Z12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:vrs:jmaeth:v:7:y:2019:i:1:p:35-49:n:3

DOI: 10.2478/jome-2019-0004

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