Well since I was beat unfairly as a child by my older brother I used to question why, but I already knew the answer. Because it worked if it wasn't for my brother beating me I wouldn't have wanted things to be fair but be mine. People who have experience bad things either recreate those things for themselves or would want to change it for the better

AMGT said it as succinctly as I have ever heard it put, and she has it exactly right. Any further embellishment is superfluous. (and whether we know it or not, it applies to all of us)

The concept of minimum violation of human dignity and well-being All of our choices present conflicts between competing values. The question must always be which choice will produce the least damnage to human dignity and well-being.

I believe morality is something that has been learned from family and acquaintances. It is something that has evolved in society simply by benefiting people. If I lived in a hunter-gatherer group it would be to my advantage to make rules about murder and stealing. Originally it would benefit the tribe as we see in the old testament. Since then it continues to evolve and results in laws that benefit more and more people. It should be the greatest good for the greatest amount of people.

Dawkins says that morality started on the seregeti and has grown up with humanity.