M12 Morals

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25 Terms

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Morality / ethics

  • Morality: Refers to culturally embedded beliefs and practices about right and wrong; it encompasses the norms, values, and expectations that guide behavior within a society.

  • Ethics: The reflective, systematic analysis of moral principles; in anthropology, ethics may refer to both emic (insider) and etic (outsider) evaluations of moral conduct.

Contrast: Morality is often lived and practiced; ethics tends to be more theoretical or codified

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Moral emotions

Emotions like empathy, guilt, shame, indignation, and moral disgust that regulate and reinforce moral behavior

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Guilt / shame

  • Guilt: emotion resulting from one behavior causing damage to another

  • Shame: emotion resulting from conscious belief that the self is damage in some manner

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Emotivism

A metaethical view that moral judgments are expressions of emotional attitudes rather than objective truth

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Supererogation

Acts that are morally commendable but not required—e.g., heroism or extreme generosity. From an anthropological lens, what counts as “supererogatory” varies widely and reflects cultural ideals of virtue.

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Social intuitionist theory

moral positions are often nonverbal and behavior-based on quick and intuitive judgement

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Moral realism / relativism

  • Moral Realism: The belief that moral facts exist independently of human beliefs.

  • Moral Relativism: The view that moral norms are culture-specific and not universally binding.

Contrast: Anthropology tends to lean toward relativism, emphasizing moral diversity, while moral realism is more common in philosophical discourse

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Capacity vs code of ethics **

  • Capacity: Refers to the evolved or developmental ability to make moral judgments.

  • Code of Ethics: A formal set of rules or guidelines for conduct, often institutional (e.g., research ethics).

Contrast: Capacity is about potential and universals; a code is about cultural specificity and institutional application. Anthropologists often study how capacities are shaped by culture

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Moral dumbfounding

A phenomenon where people maintain a moral judgment even when unable to justify it rationally

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Libertarianism (error theory)***

In moral philosophy, Error Theory holds that all moral statements are systematically false. Libertarianism, in ethics or politics, emphasizes individual freedom. In anthropology, such views are critiqued for assuming a universal rational individual, ignoring collective or relational personhood in many cultures.

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Metaethics / normative / practical ethics

  • Metaethics: The study of the nature and meaning of moral terms (what is morality)

  • Normative Ethics: Theories about how one ought to act (e.g., utilitarianism) (what should we do)

  • Practical Ethics: Applied ethics in real-world contexts (e.g., medical ethics). (how do we solve this ethical issue in context)

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Tragedy of Commonsense Morality

Phrase coined by Joshua Greene: refers to how evolved tribal moral systems clash in a globalized world. Anthropology supports this idea by showing that “common sense” morality is often parochial and leads to intergroup conflict.

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Cognitive control and conflict theory

Moral decisions are often nonverbal and behavior-based on deontological judgement (right or wrong), being intuitive and utilitarian judgement (greater good) being cognitive

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Cognitive and emotional integration theory

moral position and cannot be split; complexity and contex in situations make behavior decisions difficult

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Moral naturalism / intuition

  • Moral Naturalism: Moral truths are reducible to natural properties (e.g., well-being).

  • Moral Intuition: Moral knowledge is accessed through instinctive, non-inferential ways

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Moral dilemma

Situations where moral obligations conflict and no clear resolution exists.

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Divine command

A theory that morality is grounded in the will or commands of a deity. From an anthropological lens, it’s a culturally embedded moral ontology found in many religious societies but varying in form and authority.

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Utilitarianism

A normative ethical theory holding that the best action maximizes overall happiness or well-being. In anthropology, it's critiqued for assuming a quantifiable, universal standard of value, which may clash with diverse cultural priorities.

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Behavioral ethics

Studies actual behavior in moral contexts, including biases and situational influences. Anthropology contributes by examining how context, ritual, status, and group identity shape moral behavior in real life.

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What are the two different classes of morality?

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How are feelings of guilt and shame related to fear response?

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What are the various moral behavioral theories? How do they each define the basis of moral behavior?

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What regions of the brain are involved in moral circuitry?

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When considering a capacity for ethics, what three criteria are used for evaluating actions of "good" or "evil"?

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Is biological or cultural evolution a better "fit" for explaining origins of morality and ethical behavior? How do the four main measures of evolution support this conclusion?