Part 6/9:
Our cognitive biases reflect this evolutionary heritage. For example, we are more sensitive to harm caused up close—those we see or feel directly—compared to harm inflicted on distant strangers. This "social distance bias" influences how forgiving or condemnatory we are, making morality inherently pragmatic. We tend to be more nuanced with those near us, extending more forgiveness and understanding, whereas judgments about distant individuals are simpler and less forgiving.