Kate, the academic systems-loving biologist, undertakes weeks of research to ferret out the systems of behind morality. Through the character Kate, Jane Jacobs introduces two “moral syndromes.”

Moral Syndrome A

• Shun force
• Come to voluntary agreements
• Be honest
• Collaborate easily with strangers and aliens
• Compete
• Respect contracts
• Use initiative and enterprise
• Be open to inventiveness and novelty
• Promote comfort and convenience
• Dissent for the sake of the task
• Invest for productive purposes
• Be industrious
• Be thrifty
• Be optimistic

Moral Syndrome B

• Shun trading
• Exert prowess
• Be obedient and disciplined
• Adhere to tradition
• Respect hierarchy
• Be loyal
• Take vengeance
• Deceive for the sake of the task
• Make rich use of leisure
• Be ostentatious
• Dispense largesse
• Be exclusive
• Show fortitude
• Be fatalistic
• Treasure honor

Ben starts a moral absolutist tirade, pointing out the contradictions between Kate’s two lists. Jasper begins a bit random in his musings, which later become rather pointed, attacking the convenience of the binary pairing. Armbruster turns to Plato to give Kate some backing. As Kate elaborates on syndrome A, Ben tries to forge a third path; Hortense, the lawyer and moral relativist, provides insight into contract law and Kate’s first list.

This play by play will make more sense as I look a little deeper at each character. The important result of these initial discussions during their second meeting: names for the two syndromes.

1. Moral Syndrome A: The Commercial Syndrome
2. Moral Syndrome B: The Guardian Syndrome

The syndromes - these lists of “things that hang together” - become apparent because we have two ways of living:

1. We trade.
2. We hunt, gather, take, occupy, etc.

Kate, the biologist, recognizes the latter behavior in all animals. The former is unique to humans, around which the morals of the Commercial Syndrome hang.