PHIL 325

Neuroscience of ethics

The study of how brain structures and functions underlie moral cognition, emotions, and decision-making.

Ethics of neuroscience

The ethical concerns related to neuroscience, including cognitive enhancement, neuroprivacy, and moral implications of research.

Metaethics

The study of the nature of morality, including moral language, metaphysics, and epistemology.

Normative ethics

Examines principles and theories that guide moral behavior, such as utilitarianism and deontology.

Applied ethics

The application of moral principles to real-world issues, like medical and environmental ethics.

Utilitarianism

A moral theory stating that the right action maximizes overall happiness or well-being.

Greatest Happiness Principle

The idea that actions are right insofar as they promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

Standard of morality

A principle that defines what makes an action right or wrong.

Decision procedure

A method or process for making moral decisions based on a standard of morality.

The 'worthy only of swine' objection

A criticism of utilitarianism arguing it reduces human morality to mere pleasure pursuit.

Deontological ethical theory

A moral theory emphasizing duties and rules rather than consequences.

Categorical Imperative

Kant’s supreme moral principle requiring actions to be universalizable.

Maxim

A personal principle or rule guiding an individual's action.

Formula of the End in Itself

Kant’s idea that people should always be treated as valuable individuals.

Means vs. mere means

The distinction between using others respectfully versus exploiting them.

Formula of the Law of Nature

A test of moral permissibility stating to act as if your action's maxim were a universal law.

Anterior

Refers to the front of the brain.

Posterior

Refers to the back of the brain.

Superior

Refers to the above or top part of the brain.

Inferior

Refers to the below or bottom part of the brain.

Dorsal

Toward the back or top of the brain.

Ventral

Toward the belly or bottom of the brain.

Lateral

Toward the sides of the brain.

Medial

Toward the middle of the brain.

Coronal

A vertical slice of the brain from ear to ear.

Sagittal

A vertical slice of the brain splitting left and right.

Horizontal

A flat slice of the brain parallel to the ground.

Gyrus

Ridges of the brain.

Sulcus

Shallow grooves between gyri.

Fissure

Deep grooves separating brain regions.

Ventricle

Fluid-filled spaces inside the brain.

Functional localization

The idea that different brain areas serve different functions.

Korbinian Brodmann

Neurologist who mapped the cerebral cortex into regions based on their cellular structure.

Neuron

Nerve cell that transmits signals.

Glia

Support cells that aid neurons.

The Neuron Doctrine

Theory that neurons are the fundamental units of the nervous system.

Cell body

The neuron's core.

Dendrite

Receives signals from other neurons.

Axon

Sends signals from the neuron.

Synapse

The gap where neurons communicate.

Action potential

An electrical impulse traveling down an axon.

Neurotransmitter

Chemicals that transfer signals between neurons.

Central nervous system (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Nerves outside the CNS.

Forebrain

The evolutionary division of the brain responsible for higher cognitive processes.

Midbrain

The central part of the brain involved in various functions.

Hindbrain

The evolutionary division of the brain that controls basic life functions.

Cerebral cortex

The outermost layer of the brain responsible for higher cognition.

Frontal lobe

Responsible for decision-making, personality, and motor control.

Parietal lobe

Involved in sensory integration and spatial reasoning.

Occipital lobe

Primarily responsible for vision.

Temporal lobe

Involved in hearing, memory, and language.

Broad use of 'cognition'

Includes all mental processes.

Narrow use of 'cognition'

Refers specifically to higher-order reasoning.

Implicit processes (System 1)

Fast, automatic, and emotional cognitive processes.

Explicit processes (System 2)

Slow, effortful, and rational cognitive processes.

Prefrontal cortex (PFC)

Region associated with decision-making, planning, and self-control.

Greene’s theory

Posits emotional areas and cognitive areas are involved in moral cognition.

Processing approach

Views cognition as transformations of data.

Representational approach

Views cognition as storage of concepts.

Trolley cases

Thought experiments distinguishing impersonal vs. personal moral dilemmas.

Process vs. content

Differentiates how we judge moral situations from what we judge.

Confound

An extraneous variable affecting experimental results.

Unifying moral judgment features

Potential shared aspects of moral judgments.

Hume’s 'is/ought gap'

The assertion that moral prescriptions cannot be derived from factual statements.

G.E. Moore’s 'naturalistic fallacy'

The error of defining morality purely in natural terms.

Moral realism

The view that moral facts exist independently of human beliefs.

Moral anti-realism

The belief that morality is subjective or constructed.

Error theory

The claim that all moral statements are false.

Non-cognitivism

The view that moral statements express emotions rather than facts.

Evolutionary debunking arguments

Arguments suggesting morality evolved and may not track objective truth.

Doctrine of Double Effect

The principle that actions with good and bad effects are permissible if bad effects aren't intended.

Free will

The ability to choose among alternatives.

Causal determinism

The view that all events are caused.

Compatibilism

The belief that free will and determinism can coexist.

Incompatibilism

The belief that determinism undermines free will.

Libertarianism

The philosophical stance that humans have genuine free will.

Neuroscientific bypassing

When neuroscience undermines traditional views of free will.

Libet’s experiments

Studies investigating unconscious brain activity prior to conscious decisions.

Volition

Different aspects of free will including initiation, decision-making, and control.