The Moral Instinct - New York Times

The Moral Instinct - Study Notes

Introduction

  • Date and Author: January 13, 2008, by Steven Pinker

  • Moral Comparison: Discussion of three figures: Mother Teresa, Bill Gates, and Norman Borlaug.

    • Mother Teresa: Known for her charitable work in Calcutta; fully embraced saintly image.

    • Bill Gates: Known for Microsoft and controversies surrounding technology; criticized yet philanthropic.

    • Norman Borlaug: Led the Green Revolution and credited with saving a billion lives; lesser-known than the other two.

Moral Perception and Public Opinion

  • Public Perceptions: Often misalign moral reputation with actual impact.

    • Mother Teresa's Approach: Advocated for suffering; her mission environments lacked adequate care.

    • Gates' Philanthropy: Considers measurable impacts on poverty and health.

    • Challenge of Moral Illusions: Humans' moral judgments influenced by prejudices and perceptions rather than objective actions.

Human Moral Sense

  • Complexity and Origins: An overview of the moral sense's evolutionary history and neurobiological bases.

    • Immanuel Kant quote: "Two things fill the mind with … admiration and awe…"

  • Significance of Morality: Central to human identity; informs relationships, child-rearing, politics, and religions.

    • Societal ramifications of rejections of moral values.

Moralization and Judgment

  • Definition of Moralization: A switch in our psychology that influences how we interpret actions (e.g., killing versus mundane preferences).

    • Moral judgments perceived as universal (e.g., prohibitions against murder).

    • Punishment is often justified for moral transgressions.

  • Examples of Moralization:

    • Paul Rozin's Studies: Comparison between health and moral vegetarians.

    • Moral vegetarians view meat as a contaminant, influencing various aspects of their morality.

    • Cultural Shifts in Moralization:

    • Reactions to smoking have evolved from personal choice to moral issue with societal repercussions.

    • Behaviors like divorce and drug use being amoralized.

Reasoning and Rationalization in Moral Judgments

  • Common Misconceptions: People often rationalize rather than reason their moral judgments.

  • Examples of Moral Dilemmas (Jonathan Haidt's scenarios):

    • Julie and Mark's scenario: Siblings making love leads to moral confusion, exposing weak justifications.

    • Trolley Problem: Divergent public responses to sacrificing a life for others illustrate moral reasoning conflicts.

Psychological Findings in Moral Decision-Making

  • Divergent Responses: Trolley and fat man scenarios show a divide in emotional versus rational responses.

    • Findings indicate distinct brain areas activated in moral versus non-moral decisions (emotional versus rational thought zones).

  • Evolutionary Implications:

    • Moral aversion against harming innocents may stem from evolutionary adaptations.

Universal Aspects of Morality

  • Human Universals: Common moral sentiments identified globally (Haidt’s five primary spheres):

    • Harm, Fairness, Community, Authority, Purity.

  • Moral Evolution in Children: Early signs of altruism and moral understanding noted in toddlers.

    • Intuitions about morality versus social conventions.

Nature vs. Nurture in Morality

  • Genetic Influences: Traits like agreeableness and conscientiousness show strong heritability patterns.

    • Evidence of innate moral structures and behaviors shaped by genetics.

  • Psychopathy and Moral Blindness: Individuals with antisocial traits display lack of empathy and moral sense.

Cultural Variations in Moral Frameworks

  • Anthropological Studies: Richard Shweder and Alan Fiske’s findings highlight diversity in moral valuation across cultures.

    • Varied emphasis on themes like harm, fairness, community, authority, and purity depending on socio-cultural contexts.

  • Political Implications: Different moral frameworks lead to diverging political ideologies, especially between liberal and conservative values.

Re-imagining Morality Through Science

  • Debates on Moral Constructs: Concerns over scientific study leading to relativism or nihilism.

  • Potential for Moral Understanding: Acknowledgment of shared human morality and the need to adapt moral reasoning beyond ingrained biases.

    • Caution against equating gut reactions with moral truths.

  • Historical Moral Philosophy Links: Connections to Kant, Rawls, Spinoza's philosophies emphasizing rational, equitable moral discourse.

Conclusion: Moral Agency and Progress

  • Lessons from Moral Psychology: Recognition of the evolutionary underpinnings of moral sentiments can support moral progress.

  • Ethical Opportunity for Dialogue: Understanding the motivations behind differing moral perspectives can facilitate constructive discourse across conflicting viewpoints.

  • Final Thoughts: Moral reasoning remains vital in navigating complex ethical dilemmas and societal challenges, urging a reconsideration of intuitive judgments.