Likewise, Émile Durkheim was one of the earliest to suggest that gods represent an extension of human social life to include supernatural beings. In line with this reasoning, psychologist Matt Rossano contends that when humans began living in larger groups, they may have created gods as a means of enforcing morality. In small groups, morality can be enforced by social forces such as gossip or reputation. However, it is much harder to enforce morality using social forces in much larger groups. Rossano indicates that by including ever-watchful gods and spirits, humans discovered an effective strategy for restraining selfishness and building more cooperative groups. COUNT 7
QSN1 What are ways that small social groups can force morality? ANS1 gossip or reputation QSN2 Who suggested that by including the presence of an omniscient God, selfishness can be controlled and cooperation can be gained? ANS2 Matt Rossano QSN3 What did Émile Durkheim suggest about the existence of God? ANS3 gods represent an extension of human social life to include supernatural beings QSN4 Why would humans have begun to create gods? ANS4 a means of enforcing morality QSN5 Who posited that humans created gods to create morality in social groups? ANS5 Matt Rossano QSN6 Omnipresent gods are a way to watch large groups and enforce what? ANS6 morality QSN7 Omniprestent gods helped build what? ANS7 more cooperative groups